The Blessedness of Dependence

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD” Jeremiah 17:7a (NIV)

The simple measure of spiritual growth is how much we are growing in dependence on God. How much are we coming to the end of ourselves and depending more on his sufficiency in every area of life. I am not talking of the sentimental feeling of “trusting God for everything”, but the practical daily walk by faith which Paul spoke about when he said;

“The life that you see me living is not “mine”, but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:22 ( The Message)

This is what Jesus was talking about in the beatitudes in Luke 6:20 – 26. Let’s look at some of the things he said.

“Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of heaven”. The poor are those who see their insufficiency and who throw themselves upon God, asking for more. A man who recognises his poverty of soul is a candidate for kingdom riches.

“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied…… you who weep now, for you shall be comforted” Every longing that is set God-ward will be satisfied. Many times it grieves me to see people face so many hassles and confusions in their lives just because they’ve never learnt to look to God alone. Like someone said, “There is no earthly sorrow that heaven’s love and peace cannot soothe”. Yet so many go on without comfort or answers, even born-again children of God because they have never learnt to rest in the Lord. The Psalmist said, “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (Psalms 34:5). God is attracted when men look to him. Dependence positions a man for God’s visitation. Our goal then in life must be to direct every longing to God whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. God satisfies all hungers. He provides materials, he puts the lonely in families, and he can fill our souls to overflowing. Instead of allowing our longings and needs to drive us from God we must make them push us upon Him. Then we shall be comforted and satisfied.

“Woe to you who are rich because you already have received your comfort” – Our material blessings become a stumbling block when we begin to put our confidence in them. Riches become a curse when they trap us into living within our comfort zone. Living within our comfort zone is to live outside of dependence on God. It is to make the basis of our decisions the maintaining and enhancing of our security and comfort. It is trusting in uncertain riches.

“Woe to you who are full now…. .who laugh now” It is a curse to get to a point where we start to feel that we have arrived. Whenever we come to the point spiritually, where we feel satisfied – where we are no longer hungering and panting after God – then we are in great danger. Complacency is the surest route to spiritual sterility. This was the case of the church in Laodicea. They said, “I have need of nothing”. Yet they were naked and wretched in spite of their material abundance. Material abundance is not synonymous with spiritual abundance. Neither can an abundance of Christian activities make up for a lack of a deepening intimacy with God. We must be ever learning, ever searching for more of the Lord. We must be ever growing in dependence – ever needing more of Jesus. I love that hymn that says, “I need thee every hour”. It’s so true.

It is a curse to get to a point where we become satisfied and “at ease in Zion” as if the battle is over. We must always live with the consciousness that we are at war. There is a fierce spiritual war raging in and all around us for our souls and for those of the millions in our generation. And if we ignore this and give in to apathy or a passive spirit then we are on a path to destruction. This was the error of King David in 2 Samuel 11. He entertained a passive spirit. At a time when kings should normally go to war, he chose to stay within his comfort zone. Friend, let me ask you: Are you pursuing God with all your heart? Have you discovered your calling and are you pursuing it passionately? Is your heart in this present global battle for souls? Are you living and giving your all? Are you living by faith or by sight? Your answer will determine whether you are pursuing a blessing or a curse.

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on the flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD…But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” Jeremiah 17:5&7 (NIV)

Questioning God

‘ Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge’ – Psalm 62:8 (NIV 2010)

In Luke chapter 1 we read of two people questioning God and getting two different reactions from God. Zechariah, the priest who was John the Baptist’s father asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” (verse 18) and he was chastised with dumbness. But when Mary, our Lord’s mother asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (verse 34), she received encouragement. Both of them seemed to be asking the same kind of question, so why the different reactions from God?

It is not wrong to ask God questions. What is wrong is to question him. This is not a play on words but rather a question of the attitude with which we ask our questions. In the one case, like Mary, we are being naked with God and pouring out our limited understanding and heart’s burden before him. Yet we do it with our eyes on him and our ears open to him – wanting to trust, wanting to hear and follow. This was Mary’s attitude. That was why her immediate response when God gave her further light was ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (verse 38).

But when we question God, we put him in the dock and on trial. We are the Judge and he must answer to us. Our eyes are not on him rather we demand that he conforms to our limited understanding. This was the attitude that God chastised in Zechariah. When we are questioning God our ears are not open to him, we are just venting our unbelief and grumblings.

Please note that the difference has nothing to do with the words we use, but the attitude of our hearts as we bring our questions before God. God is not offended when his servants, in the midst of the pains of life, cry, ‘O Lord, my God why have you forsaken me!’ God wants us to be real with him – to pour out our hearts to him and yet to trust him.

‘ Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge’ – Psalm 62:8

God calls us to pour out our hearts to him in an attitude of trust. God loves it when we run to him instead of running away from him even if we run to him with questions from our heavy hearts. He does not even mind us pouring out our complaints before him, if we do it from an attitude of trust. The Psalms and the Prophets are full of men pouring out their questions to God and receiving his encouragement. So, let us also draw near with our questions, but with a trusting heart.