Exploiting God James 3:16 … “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” The word exploit means to take advantage of another person or situation for your benefit. If you hire a woman to wash your clothes, but do not pay her fairly because you know she cannot find work elsewhere, you are exploiting her. If you assign your nine year old daughter to skip school and care for your baby so that you can play cards with a neighbor, you are exploiting the older daughter; the baby is your responsibility. If you are a teacher and humiliate a failing student to amuse the class, and then charge the student’s poor family for special tutoring, you are exploiting the poor child and his family. If you pick up and keep some coins dropped by a person in front of you at the store, you are taking advantage of that customer. Some believers try to exploit God. A person might ignore God for days, then appeal to him for help when he or she needs money, a job, or healing. Others will pretend God is not watching them drink to excess (the Bible forbids drunkenness), then expect him to keep them safe as they drive home. When you get into a pattern of living in disobedience to God and running to him only when you need help, you are trying to exploit God. But, God is not a mindless, unknowing resource for our troubles and needs. Most of the promises of God are only available to you if you obey, honor, and serve him. We call those God’s conditional promises. Trying to take advantage of God’s mercy is a waste of your time. He is not ignorant of your motives. You cannot trick him. And, if your heart and mind continue to pursue evil instead of God, your heart will eventually become hardened to the love of God. So, rather than trying to exploit God, enjoy Him and all that he offers you as a condition of your obedience, love, and service to him. If you do what he requires, you can expect him to do what he promised. Copyright © 2013 Datu Wali Mission Foundation
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 11:01:06 +0000
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