A TIMELY WORD

A TIMELY WORD:

Recently, a dear friend in ministry shared his experience of financial difficulties. He noted that some unforeseen expenses and sarcastically referred to it as “a really good day.”

I wouldn’t respond this way to just anyone, but because of his maturity in Christ, and because of our close relationship, I simply responded, “Psalm 118:24.”

His response: “There hasn’t been much ‘rejoicing’ knowing I’ve depleted our family’s emergency fund.”

Again, I wouldn’t have shared the following with just anyone, but because of the nature of our relationship I shared that “running on empty” has been the reality of my life since the year 2000. Two failed businesses, mangled credit, seminary debt, self-employment, waiting (im)patiently for God to provide a ministry opportunity, kids, medical expenses, legal stuff, etc., etc. I’ve been running on empty for over sixteen years now and it has been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of my life.

Every Christian knows Jesus’ prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” but our practical lives don’t typically reflect that kind of faith. Those are our “prayer” words, but our real prayer is something more akin to “Give me the winning numbers to the super lottery. Give me security. Give me safety and insulation from trials and testing.”

“Our daily bread” is exactly that - the absolute minimum amount required to finish the next “good thing,” which God has prepared for us in advance to do. Daily bread, like Israel’s manna in the wilderness, forces us to rely completely and exclusively upon God Almighty and His supernatural provision in all things at all times. That kind of systemically dependent life forces us to stay in vivid, intimate communion with Christ. Running on empty is exactly where God wants us to be for our benefit.

James wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Peter wrote, “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

Paul wrote, “...but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger… through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

The error of Job’s three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) and Elihu was not only their flawed theology, but more importantly in their timing and approach. In Romans 12:15 we read, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Job’s emotional and physical trauma (recent loss of his entire family and affliction from head to toe with a wasting skin disease) called for support, encouragement, and reassurance - not an impassioned theological discourse on the nature of suffering.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 informs us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to be silent and a time to speak...” God rebuked Job’s “friends” saying, ““My anger burns against you… for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” This has more to do with their timing and approach that merely the content of their theological worldviews.

Hebrews 10 tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Since you are here, reading this blog, you’ve given me some liberty to share with you. You’ve invited me into your life, albeit briefly, therefore I take great care in my approach and style of writing.

The application here is two-fold:

Firstly, consider the fact that God truly desires for us to depend upon Him for the good things of life. Isaiah 55:9 instructs us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my (God’s) ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” As we strive to achieve independence of any kind - financial, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical - God is instead leading us toward complete dependence upon Him. Therefore, we are hopelessly straining at the oars rather than riding the current, which God intends for us.

Lastly, consider the timing and application of God’s truth. When a friend has lost his child in a tragic accident or their spouse to cancer - that is not the time to wield Scripture like a battle ax. “Hey Joe, I know your wife just died, but remember Romans 12:12 ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’” When Lazarus’ sister told Jesus of her brother’s passing we read, in John 11:35, one of the shortest and most profound verses in Scripture, “Jesus wept.”

Speaking truth graciously and timely is as essential to the fruitfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the content. Consider Proverbs 15:23, “Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!”

Love well. Always being an encouragement. Often that means using no words at all.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com