Bloom where I am planted . . .

 

READ 2 Chronicles 1–4

Solomon teaches a spiritual principle about having a godly ambition that results in success, no matter what a person is doing. When he became king, God asked him:

“Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?”

This was a godly answer. The Lord was pleased and said, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” (2 Chronicles 1:7–12)

Imagine hearing that offer. Most would go for personal greatness of some sort, but Solomon was not thinking about selfish gain. His mind was on the task that fell to him, the task of leading a nation. He wanted to govern well for their sake. By this request, God gave him far more than he asked.

My tasks are not so grand; I make quilts, mostly to give to others. The latest project was a challenge and I prayed about every step. I wanted it to be well done and express God’s love to the person who would receive it. God heard my requests. When I look at the finished quilt, I can hardly believe that I made it and must glorify God for the result; any skill was His doing.

Principle: no matter the task that God places in my life, asking Him to bless me with whatever is needed to do that task for His honor and glory makes a difference. His hand in my to-do list not only draws me closer to Him as I pray, the work itself will be a surprise, even to the point of feeling detached from it, as if I didn’t do it.

I don’t know how Solomon felt as he watched the house of God go up, but he did say at the beginning:

The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? (2:5–6)

This is an attitude of detachment. It is not about Solomon but about God. This man willingly asked God for a helper, a man “skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me . . . .” and asked for “cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon” for he knew whatever God gave would be amazing. He did not mind sharing the task either, for it was not for himself but for God’s glory.

The helper God sent said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding . . . .” (2:12–13) He recognized the source of Solomon’s wisdom.

God then blessed him with whatever timber he needed and its delivery. The house was lined with gold and had carved cherubim on the walls. The altar was bronze. Every detail was beautiful as well as functional and most of it was overlaid with gold. His helper also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. All the vessels were gold — the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, the sockets of the temple, the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the nave of the temple. The result of asking for wisdom was amazing!

Whatever I do does not compare to the temple in glory, yet God wants me to follow Solomon’s example, whether I am making a quilt, baking a cake, visiting a shut-in, writing a text or this blog, or answering the phone. He says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

All of life is an opportunity to glorify the Author of Life. Doing everything with this attitude is blessed, and the results are far more surprising and wonderful than merely doing something for personal gain, or even just doing it because it needs to be done, like eating and drinking.

And all of this makes me realize how slow I am to learn and remember the truths of God, and to simply bloom where He plants me.

 

Wisdom requires humility . . .

 

 

READ Job 29-32

Dwelling on my mistakes is sometimes a good thing if it leads to repentance and change, but this can also be self-centered navel-gazing, just one more way of putting me in the spotlight instead of exalting my Savior. On the other hand, when down and down-trodden, a review of how God has blessed and used my life can be medicine for a discouraged and depressed soul.

In today’s chapters, Job rehearses the good times. He thinks of his family, his position as a prominent and respected man who was blessed by all. People listened to his wisdom and all was well. He also talked about his present situation. He was ridiculed by those who once looked up to him and even by those whose opinion was generally unworthy. His friends turned against him and everyone misunderstood him. His afflictions deepened each day.

Not only that, when he called on the Lord, he heard silence, as if he were forgotten. His joy was gone and he was mourning for his losses, even for himself. All that was left was his integrity. Even in all his anguish, he knew that he was all that he claimed to be before God. For him, there was no answer to this deeply painful situation except to keep trusting God.

“If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) (Job 31:5–6)

God know the human heart. He knows our intentions and our difficulties. He never leaves us or forsakes us even if we feel alone and without any resources. Reviewing the past, the present, and our hopes for the future along with an honest declaration of all that we are feeling is one way to display integrity. Job did this and in the midst of tough times, he remained full of faith. He trusted in the only One who could truly help him and Job never forsook the Lord.

As I look back at fifty years or so of being a Christian, my errors and failures could easily throw me into a pit — if I make them the focus of my review. Yet God, through the life of Job, tells me to do that review with His faithfulness in mind rather than my failures. In that lies great blessing.

Chapter 32 is interesting. A younger man comes forward. He has been listening to Job and the words of his ‘friends’ and been angered at both sides of this debate. He first goes after the three accusers and says:

“I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’” (Job 32:6–10)

I don’t know what I might have said to these three ‘friends’ but Elihu’s rebuke includes a wisdom that many do not realize. He said that understanding comes from God, not necessarily because a person is old and wise. My dad used to say, “There is no fool like an old fool” and Elihu would agree.

However, this young man also knew the possibility that what he says is his “opinion” rather that the thoughts of God, another wise statement. This is a rebuke to these ‘friends’ for speaking without the humility that comes with an admission that not one of us really knows very much. Their words to Job would have been much different had they told him they had no idea why God had allowed this man to suffer.

In my prayers, I realize how little I know of the will of God. When they are answered, the answer is a small glimpse, yet when nothing happens according to my requests, I also learn something: that I’m either to wait or that God is telling me how clueless I am to what He is doing. From Job, I learn that the best thing I can do is to keep on trusting Him. Only the Lord can give me right words and right thoughts. I must admit that when He does (or does not) I may not have a clue about that either. Unless what I say lines up with His words plainly stated in Scripture and unless He reveals it by His Spirit to my spirit, I am just as oblivious as those ‘friends’ when stating my understanding about most everything, no matter my age or how much I study, or much I think I know.