“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:” (Luke 16:19)
Some people drive Bentleys, Aston Martins, and Ferraris, while you are praying to have enough fuel in your vehicle that needs repairs to make it to your next paycheck.
Some eat the food products that you might call an unwarranted expense, and those same individuals are the ones that are raising the price of food to a point where you may need to make a decision between what you eat and the fuel you need.
Those who have been born-again my friends are not having these, to be honest, minor trials and tribulations placed on us by those who either knowingly or unknowingly serve our adversary, they are from the Lord Himself, and we need to realize the truth of Colossians 3:2.
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
This subject in these days is more important than I believe many who have been crucified with Christ realize, for perhaps not all, but many of you have been used to having, you are accustomed, though perhaps not like the wealthy, to being able to go to the market once a week, to fill up your vehicle with fuel, to order items online, and even though those prices have risen dramatically, you are still able to do so, if to a lesser degree, or in the modification of those items.
The test, my friends from the Lord is the ability to control your frustrations, to continue to rely on His promises, to accept what you have, or what you can afford, as what the Lord says you need.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)
This is the test that you must endure. The world wants you to depend on it, it wants you to run to it when the cupboards become bare, when the car breaks down, when the rent is due, they want you to trust them, not Christ. What you must determine in yourself is how much you need to be content in the Lord, and that must be done today, for you know the path this world is on, and you know the path you are to remain on.
Job knew it, Paul knew it, countless others of our brothers and sisters in Christ knew it.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1st John 2:15)
I cannot speak for you, but your Father in heaven knows how much you need to be content in Him. What can you count as nothing to gain Christ, how much of the things of this world, how much food a day, what type of protection from the elements do you require to continue trusting in His promises? And that beyond the truth of where you will abide for all eternity?
How much do you have today and how much of it do you need to retain before the promises of joy here today begin to be questioned by you?
They are going to try, and probably succeed in many ways, to take away from you those things many of us have taken for granted for so long, and by doing so they are attempting to cause you to doubt the provisions and promises of the Almighty.
Determine in your heart today to not let them succeed, let them, by your faithfulness to the One who is and always will be faithful to us, be the ones to be frustrated, let them grow in anger because you will not move from the Rock of our salvation.
“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:20)
If the Lord places you in that position, it may be that your persecutors will see your faithfulness and question the motives of his own soul.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13)
The world says, “submit or die,” we are told, “submit and die,” and we do so, for He first loved us.
“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)
Prepare for that day with great anticipation before it arrives.
