Where Are the Blessings?

by Keith Gardner

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

Hebrews 11:24-29 (NIV)

Many times there are questions we ask ourselves and those around us that only God can answer. It is not that these questions are not important, or that our experience and wisdom does not measure up; but it is that the wisdom of heaven is greater and sees with a greater clarity. Heaven’s wisdom sees from an eternal perspective. We generally see in the context of the present.

Often our questions come in the context of where is God? Why has he not answered this important prayer of mine? I do not intend to answer that question, but I do intend to lay a foundation of understand, and to offer a different perspective. Only God can answer for you the particulars of your situation. Only He can bring clarity to your wondering.

Jesus made a promise to us that whatever we ask in his name our Father in heaven will give to us (John 16:23-24). John teaches us that if we ask according to God’s will we will get what we ask (1 John 5:14-15). We are taught to cast our bread on the water, or in other words, to be generous to those who do not have the means of returning the favor, and in doing so it will come back to us (Ecclesiastes 11:1). Jesus himself thought us to give generously and we will receive back in overflowing measure (Luke 6:38). However, often our experience does not line up with our understanding of these promises. James tells us that we do not have because we do not ask; and often when we do ask we ask with a wrong motivation (James 4:2-3). Often we do not understand our own motivations; why we do say the things we do. We all require the Holy Spirit to work in our lives in order to parse out the true depths our heart; to discover what makes us talk, and think and act the way we do.

It would be easy here to conclude that in someway the fault lies with oneself. That is not necessarily true. God only knows, but he has promised if we do not understand something that all we need to do is to ask and he will teach us (James 1:4).

I am reminded of Moses. Moses was in charge of leading the stubborn and rebellious people of promise to the land of milk and honey. What should have taken only a few weeks took forty years. God took the Israelites in circles to prove their faithfulness or the lack of it (Deuteronomy 8:2). Moses was faithful. He was leading a faithless people. Moses’ wandering in the desert has nothing to do with his faith or his faithfulness. It was because of the people he was leading. Moses’ blessings were directly tied into the faithfulness of those he was leading. We are on this faith journey with others. We are not alone. Just as the actions, the decisions and the faithfulness of those around us have an impact on us individually, so does ours actions, decisions and faithfulness, have an impact on others. We are in fact our brother’s keepers, and we are to lift up our brother’s burdens in prayer, to give him a hand when he falls, to cry when he cries, and to rejoice when he rejoices. Just maybe our unanswered prayers are more directly tied to our lack of concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and an over emphasis on our own wants. Only God knows for sure. Ask him.

For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Romans 15:26-27 (NIV)

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

1Timothy 6:17 – 19 (NIV)

Father, Show me where I am too wrapped up in my own concerns, and where I am not noticing the concerns of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Where am I rich and where should I be sharing with other? I am too often focused on my lack and oblivious to the need of those around me. Forgive me for my disinterest in the needs of others and help me to be aware of my place in the body of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.