Tag: 1 Kings

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Have you ever been burdened beyond your abilities?

Have you ever been burdened beyond your abilities?

Have you ever despaired of life? If so, you are in good company. The Apostle Paul experienced these same feelings as described in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,  you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11

The truth is we all reach the limits of our human capacity from time to time or in particular areas of our life. Apostle Paul was not immune from this and neither are we. In fact, the bible has numerous examples of this. For example, prophet Elijah, after killing 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:22,40) fled for his life at the threat of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-3).

Why does this happen and what should we do about it?

Jesus tells us that because we live in a fallen world, we will experience affliction (John 16:33). Trials, difficulties etc also make us realize we can’t do life on our own.
Like Paul, we must learn to “stop relying on ourselves, and learn to rely only on God” (2 Corinthians 1:9 NLT). When we get to the end of our abilities, we need to learn to rely on God’s strength, His grace, and His Holy Spirit to live out the call He has placed on our life.

God is our creator and He created us to be dependent on Him. 

Even as Jesus told us we would have affliction, He also let us know He had already overcome the world through His death, burial and resurrection (John 16:33). When we seek the Lord, He hears us and delivers us from all our fears (Psalms 34:4).

In our walk with God, we can even get to the point that Apostle Paul did where we can “boast in our infirmities … and take pleasure in [them], in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

We can do this because we recognize that our trials and tribulations produce perseverance, strength of character (maturity) and hope in us (Romans 5:3-4).

In what areas of life have you reached the end of your rope? Is it in a relationship – a difficult spouse/marriage or an addicted parent or a disobedient, wayward child? Is it in the area of finances and struggling to make ends meet for yourself or family? Is it in the area of your health where you may be dealing with persistent issues that have you living less than God’s best for you? Or something else entirely?

Take those things to God in prayer. Search His Word for the answers you need. Proverbs 3:5-6 perfectly sums up the response we should have.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6

Did You Know?

“God … comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

So be encouraged. Someone is depending on your testimony.

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At BibleStorm, our mission is to illuminate hidden truth found in God’s Word (i.e. the bible). Our vision is to see people become more familiar with the bible, biblical themes and concepts and to develop a hunger/desire to learn more about God through His Word. We are doing our part to seek the kingdom of God and spread the good news of salvation through bible trivia. And to help people transform their minds through the living Word of God. Learn more about us.

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What’s in Your Wallet?

seed and bread

God is the source and giver of everything we have. Whether seed or bread, it all originates from Him. God gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater.

Everything we receive is from God (James 1:17) and is to be used to His glory. That applies to our time, talent, and definitely our treasure (money). In fact, God is the one that gives us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).

However, not everything that enters our hands is meant for us. We are simply stewards who get to benefit from God’s largesse. But we must use the resources wisely (not in our own wisdom but according to God’s wisdom and direction for the money).

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,”
2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

A farmer that has a seed has 2 choices. He/she can cook and eat it or they can sow it back into the ground to yield a harvest greater than the seed that was sown.

Likewise, we can’t eat (i.e. spend) everything we get. Everything that we receive is not meant to be consumed by us (like bread) but some is meant to be dispersed (like seed) so that it can produce a future harvest (in others, for ourselves, etc).

So we have to ask ourselves – is what I have in my hand (wallet, bank account, etc.) seed or bread?

How do we know the difference? Whether what we have is seed or bread? Let’s look at some examples.

Boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes (John 6:1-14)

After teaching a crowd of 5,000 men (plus women and children) all day, Jesus challenged his disciples to feed them. They responded by noting that over 6 months of the average daily wage would be insufficient to feed the multitude. But there was a boy whose parents (well really mom!) had packed a lunch bag of 5 loaves and 2 fishes. The boy gave up his meal to the Master. (Side note: I wonder if he worried about how much of it he would actually get to eat. Perhaps a crumb or two.) But after Jesus broke the bread/fish and gave thanks, He instructed his disciples to give it to the multitudes that were by now sitting down. The bible records that each person got as much as they wanted and were filled. And at the end, there were still 12 baskets of leftovers. (I can just imagine that the 12 baskets were given to the boy to take home to his family!)

Widow with last morsel of food (1 Kings 17:8-16)

During the reign of King Ahab, the prophet Elijah prophesied that there would be no rain over the land and this lasted for 3.5 years (James 5:17). It is no surprise that the land was in a severe drought. There was a widow in Zarepath with a son who was preparing her last meal (handful of flour and a little oil) before she and her child would succumb to hunger and die. The prophet Elijah asked her to first make a meal for him and then for herself and her son and promised that the seemingly insignificant amount of food would last through the rest of the drought (which it did).

 

In the case of the little boy and the widow, what seemed like bread was actually seed. In fact, what they had in their hand already had a divine plan from God. For example, God told Elijah to go to Zarepath where he had commanded a widow to provide for him (1 Kings 17:8). When they were willing to trust God and obey his instructions / release it into the hand of the Master, they received a harvest that was impossible to imagine.

So ask yourself this question –

Is what I have in my hand (wallet, bank account, etc.) seed or bread?

And trust God to show you and tell you which is which.

In part 2 of this blog entry, we will share 10 reasons why God provides for us. Hint: how many parents want to be good providers to their kids?

 

PS: It’s important that we receive the free gift that God has already given in his son, Jesus Christ, before we seek anything else from Him. Check out our salvation appeal page to learn more about Jesus Christ and how to receive Him as Savior.

 

References

 

#Money #Finances #MoneyPrinciples #Seed #Bread #FinancialFriday #Miracle #Sow #Steward

About BibleStorm:

At BibleStorm, our mission is to illuminate hidden truths found in God’s Word (i.e. the bible). Our vision is to see people become more familiar with the bible, biblical themes and concepts and to develop a hunger/desire to learn more about God through His Word. We are doing our part to seek the kingdom of God and spread the good news of salvation through bible trivia. And to help people transform their minds through the living Word of God.

 

Order your very own BibleStorm trivia game cards today from our online store.