September 10, 2007
Give it All to Jesus
Last week my life was like a roller coaster with one family crisis after another. Even though the Lord’s hand was evident at every turn I kept thinking things couldn’t get worse, but they did. On Sunday I telephoned Aunt Cleo, the reigning spiritual matriarch of the family, for support, encouragement and words of wisdom. Her advice, “Give it to the Lord, but don’t let Him have all of it. Save a little of it so you’ll have something to worry about.”
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Gail;
-----Of all the Christian cliché’s flung about, “Give it to Jesus,” has always bothered me as much as any other. If I could figure what kind of box would hold a problem, then I would not be sure exactly what address to give it that the post office would understand or service. It seems to me that when I am expected to give something to someone else, I no longer have it. And in the case of my Bronco II with it’s water leak, how would it serve my need to get to work after I give it to Jesus?
-----Of course, I understand the abstract meaning of the cliché. But that meaning also draws a falsehood from it’s concrete meaning. Because we have a High Priest in Jesus and a Father in God does not mean we are relieved of any responsibility in the solving of our problems. In fact, I think our own attitudes and behaviors are the causes of a lot of our problems, and therefore, the fixing of those problems is in ourselves more than in the circumstances. Although we are empowered by God and although His Spirit has joined with ours, the Bible still reads, “You love…You give…You forgive…You work…You honor…etc.” It does not read, “Let Jesus love through you…Let Jesus give through you…Let Jesus forgive through you…Let Jesus work through you…Let Jesus honor through you…Let Jesus this through you…Let Jesus that through you.” God wants His people to actually be involved in the workings of their lives and problems.
-----So we must continue to engage in most of our problems both mentally and physically. If there is any way we can withdraw from a problem because of the involvement of Jesus and the Father, it is our emotions and expectations. Not every problem will have a joyful outcome, but sadness is not despair, and failure is not defeat. Nor is aid dismissal or support release from obligation. I seek the aid and support of our God in prospects of Him helping me to free my abilities and mental skills from my fears and biases for a better effort on my part. Yet maybe I hope for a little, miraculous tweak from Him here or there beyond my skills and abilities. But in no way have I found Him simply taking my problems away, nor do I expect that of Him.
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