So why doesn’t He? If He has all this treasure in heaven, why doesn’t He pour out His riches from His storehouse instead of holding it up? Christians have spent a lot of time delving into what might be the reason or reasons. Almost always the reason involves a lack of something on our part: a lack of faith, lack of tithing, lack of wisdom, lack of responsibility, lack of ____________. You fill in the blank.
May I suggest that maybe there’s another way to look at this dichotomy? Maybe we have it backward. Maybe it’s not our lack that shuts up heaven’s blessings. After all, Jesus knows we lack—in every area of our lives. In fact, we don’t just lack, we’re powerless to achieve anything good without Him. Jesus said, “Without Me, you can do nothing.”
But we do have Jesus. As Christians, we’ve placed our trust in Him and accepted His Spirit in our hearts, transforming us into children of God. Isn’t it true what Paul said: “He who did not spare His only Son, but delivered Him for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) Yes, it’s true, so may I suggest that we turn the equation around?
We deserved NOTHING, yet God spilled His own blood to redeem us from Sin’s grip. He looked at us in the filthiness and weakness of our obsessions, lusts, addictions, and pride…and said, “I want them. I’m passionate for them. I’ll pay the price to buy them back from the Taskmaster of demonic wisdom that seeks to seduce them every day, saying, ‘If you’ll do it, you’ll get what God’s denying you.’” Oh, the love and mercy of God!!! Satan’s lie fell through at the Garden and it’ll fall through every time we act on it. So God stepped in. Jesus said, “Enough! I’ll show you TRUE life, and if you’ll have Me, I’ll make sure you never lack again.” (John 10:10; my paraphrase)
So why do we look at our pocketbooks and feel lack? Why do we see lack in our relationships, workplaces, emotions, and prayer times? May I suggest that the frailty of human flesh must become the springboard for seeking more of God? Not more of His blessings, but more of Him. Just Jesus.
It makes sense after all, when Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) Yet, how can we experience joy when the bills are piling up? Where is peace when a relationship ends abruptly? What has happened to right-living when I give into the same old sin?
Scripture always points us back to the Person of Jesus Christ. Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” Isaiah 26:3 promises, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose thoughts are stayed on You because he trusts in You.” I Corinthians 1:30 declares, “Jesus…became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Oh, Jesus—YOU are the answer. Every single time.
This amazing discovery does not ask for mere intellectual assent to the Word. No, rather Jesus Himself is calling to our hearts, creating in us such a desperate need for Him that we won’t be content until we’ve seen Him—seen Him face to face and prostrated our war-torn bodies before His nail-pierced feet. Then His peace sweeps in and we know—we KNOW—that we are safe, so utterly and completely safe, in His hands.
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