Baptist City Blog

God is Not an Elitist

1 Chronicles 13:14

"And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had."

Quite often in the Scriptures, the name of a person described their character.  Such is the case with Obededom.  The name "Obededom" means, "a worker of Edom." In other words, Obededom was a common everyday man.  Yet, the great thing about this man was that God chose to bless him.  God isn't a God Who only blesses the elite of society; quite the opposite is true.  God is a God Who blesses the common man.  

We live in a day where the common man seems to wonder if he is forgotten or even heard.  The political system of this day has become one of a bunch of elitists who try to tell the common workingman how they must live their lives.  Sad to say that there are even those in Christianity who only want people to believe that only the elite can know what is right and wrong.  Yet when you look through the Scriptures, you will find that God uses the common man because He is not an elitist.  The blue-collar workingman has hope in the fact that God is not an elitist.  

The story in the verse above proves that God is not an elitist.  God blessed the house of Obededom who was a common person. The same blessings that came upon Obededom can also come upon you.  You don't have to be an elitist for God to bless you.  If you are a common person, let me remind you that God enjoys blessing the common man.  

Secondly, one of the reasons why God blessed Obededom was because he was a worker.  God blesses those who work.  It is amazing how "lucky" the hard worker is.  The fact is, the hard worker is not lucky, but they are blessed because God chooses to bless the worker.  The harder you work the more God will bless.  There are many people who fill time, but there are few people who work hard.  If you want God's blessings, then one way to get His attention is through hard work.  

Lastly, the reason God chose to bless Obededom was because he was not concerned about position, but he was simply concerned with being in God's presence.  It is believed that Psalm 84:10 was written about Obededom where it says, "...I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." As long as Obededom could open the door at God's house and be where His presence dwelt, then he was happy just to be there.  When you forget about position and simply desire the presence of God, that is when you will find yourself dwelling in the presence of God's blessings.  

Christian, let me remind you again that God is not an elitist.  God is the God of the common man.  You can receive the blessings of God upon your life like anyone else if you will simply do what it takes to get those blessings.

Very Able Men

1 Chronicles 9:13

"And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God."

You see in this chapter the importance of men taking charge and fulfilling their God-given roles.  When God described the men who worked in the house of God, He said they were "very able men." These were not men who could not make decisions, but they were "very able men." These men did not sit at home while their wives served God.  These men did not sit on the sidelines of the temple while the ladies did all the work.  No, these men took charge and did their work because they were "very able men."  

If a church is going to be strong, then that church needs men who are "very able men." If a nation is going to be strong, then that nation needs men who are "very able men." If the home is going to be what it ought to be, then it needs a man who is "very able." If married couples are going to be successful in fulfilling what God has for them to do, then their marriages need a man who is "very able." Don't get me wrong, I don't believe ladies are inferior, but we live in a society where manhood has been attacked, and we need some men who will take charge and become "very able."  

If we are going to have men who are "very able," then it must start at home with men who will lead their homes.  Men, your boys are not going to become "very able men" if you don't take charge and lead in your home.  Your boys will only follow your example.  They need to see a dad who makes decisions and spiritually leads the home in the direction that it should go.  They will never become "very able men" with a dad who makes his wife make all the decisions because he is too lazy or doesn't care.  You are training your boy by your example.  

Furthermore, mothers need to train their boys to become "very able men." Mothers, teach your boys to make good decisions by leading them to make decisions in the home when dad is gone.  Though you ultimately will make the decisions when dad is gone, it is important that your boys know how to make proper decisions.  Let your boys get dirty when they play so they won't be afraid to get dirty and get a job one day. Let your boys work with dad, even if it is going to inconvenience you.  As a mother you should do everything you can to turn your boys into "very able men."  

This society is dying for men to become men again.  Until the men become "very able men" who make decisions and lead, then this society will continue to be a weak society.  Men, step up and become the "very able" man that you should be, and rear your boys to become "very able men."

Without Children

1 Chronicles 2:30

"And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children."

It is interesting that two times in 1 Chronicles 2 God mentions men who "died without children." For most this would not seem to be that big of a deal, but for some who are trying to have children and can't, this is a big deal.  It is interesting to me because God took notice that they had no children.  I know several people who would love to have children, but for whatever reason God has not allowed them to have any.  To those who have no children and read this devotional, let me briefly talk to you.  

I have an uncle and aunt, L. J. and Bessie Parr, who were not able to have any children. To say the least, though they had no children, they influenced many in their lives.  Instead of complaining about not having any children, they invested themselves into the lives of many other children.  My aunt taught me to be a soul winner and helped me lead my first person to Christ when I was seven years of age. When I was at Bible college, they took care of me as if I was their own child.  These two people, though they had no children, will never be forgotten in my life for the great influence they had upon me.  

To those who have no children, let me remind you that it is not the end of the world.  Though you may want children, you must understand that it must not be God's will.  Stop fighting God, and realize that this is not the end of the world.  There is a purpose as to why God has not allowed you to have children.  If you fight the will of God, then you will never find that purpose that He has for you.  As long as God has not given you children, it is His will and you must accept it.  

Furthermore, because you have no children, what you ought to do is invest your life and efforts into others.  Just like my uncle and aunt invested their lives into me, you should take the time that you would spend rearing your children to help other children who don't have a good home.  Maybe the whole reason why God did not give you children is so that you could take your efforts and invest them into many other children.  God knew that if you had children of your own that you would not have as much time to invest in others, so maybe He didn't give you children for the purpose of you helping many children.  By investing your life in many children, you can take pride in the fact that you had a part in their life.  

Okay, so you are without children, don't let that destroy your spirit.  There are many out there whom you could influence if you do not let this destroy you.  If you will invest your life into the lives of others, then you will find that you will not be forgotten.

Don't Ask for the Hamburger, Get a Steak

1 Kings 20:10

"And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees."

In the verse above, you find the story of the man of God telling Hezekiah that he would be healed. Hezekiah somewhat doubted that the man of God was right, so he asked for a sign from God to be sure that this would happen.  The man of God asked Hezekiah what he wanted God to show him.  Hezekiah responded by saying, "It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees..." Hezekiah was not asking God to do something easy, but he was challenging God to do something that seemed difficult.  

I am reminded of a story I heard a preacher tell about a young college student who was praying and begging God to give him something to eat.  He said this college student said, "God, all I am asking of you is a hamburger." Dr. John R. Rice heard that young man praying that prayer and told the young man that he should pray for steak.  He told the young man that if God could give him a hamburger then He could also give him a steak.  

Oftentimes this happens with many people.  Too many people pray asking for the hamburger when God would give them a steak if they would simply ask.  Hezekiah said, "It is a light thing..." Hezekiah wasn't asking God for the hamburger, no, he was asking God for some steak.  I challenge you in your prayer life to stop only asking God for the light things.  Christian, if God can give you a hamburger then He can also give you a steak.  Don't get me wrong, I believe it is important in building our faith to get some "light" prayers answered, but there is a God in Heaven Who wants to give you some great things if you would only ask.  It is not that God doesn't have the power to do the great things for you, it is simply that His people have stopped asking Him to do great things.  

When is the last time you stepped up your prayer from a hamburger to a steak?  God promises us in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" This promise is for you!  All you have to do is ask.  Christian, don't stop asking for the hamburger, but don't stop at the hamburger and ask God for the steak also.  You will never receive until you ask

Petty Things

Song of Solomon 2:15
"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes."
 

It was a common thing in Israel for a man to have his own vineyard. Throughout the Scriptures you often see comparisons to the vineyard.  One of the main enemies of the vineyard were the wild animals that would come in and destroy the vines.  Because of this, the husbandman would build a hedge about his vineyard to keep the animals out.  

In the verse above, God warned about the "little foxes" destroying the vineyard.  Most of the vineyards were safe from the larger animals, but the little fox could find a small gap in the hedge and get in and destroy the grapes and the vines.  God is teaching us that the little things of life are what destroy more often than the big things.

As this book is mainly about marriage, we see that this verse is warning us to not allow petty things to destroy the marriage relationship. Rarely are marriages destroyed because of big things; it is usually the little things that destroy a marriage.  Yes, the big things are usually what people blame for the failure of their marriage, but the big things are a result of not dealing with the little things properly.  

We must be careful about allowing the petty things to destroy our marriage. Most arguments in a marriage are over petty things.  Most disagreements in a marriage are over petty things.  For instance, ladies should not allow her husband's socks being in the middle of the floor destroy her marriage.  Likewise, a man should not allow his wife not doing things like he would do them to destroy his marriage.  If you are not careful, you will allow the petty things, or the "little foxes," to destroy your marriage.  

Furthermore, it is the little things that destroy most relationships.  Many church members allow petty things to destroy their attitude towards their pastor and church.  Many employees allow petty things to destroy their spirit about their place of employment.  Many friends allow petty things to destroy a relationship with a good friend.  If you allow the petty things to destroy relationships, then one day you will become a very lonely person.  

Beware of those little petty things that destroy relationships. The greatest way to avoid the petty things is to not make any relationship about you. When you make a relationship about you and what you get out of it, that is when the petty things will bother you. If you will make every relationship you have about the other person, then you will find that most of the petty things won't bother you.  

When you do have a little petty thing that bothers you, ask God to help you not to allow it to destroy your relationship.  If you will wisely talk to the other person about that situation without losing your cool, you will often find that they didn't even know that the petty thing bothered you.  More often than not they will try to avoid that petty thing in your presence if they know about it.  If they don't, then be gracious to them and try to avoid what causes the petty thing to arise.  

Life is too short to allow the petty things to destroy our relationships with others. If you will look at the whole picture in every relationship, you will find that you can make each relationship work in spite of the petty things.  Be careful about focusing on petty things, and enjoy those with whom you have relationships.