This is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible related to gaining wisdom and direction from God. Yet, I have never heard one teaching on this passage that teaches what I believe the Psalmist is really saying. The first part is pretty easy; we are to trust with all our heart. But the next part is not so clear. We are not to lean on our own understanding. If we are not to lean on our own understanding, who's understanding are we to lean? God's!
Given all of these scenarios, what are we to gain from these examples? We are told in (Jeremiah 17:9) that "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure." So what really protects each of us from the deceit of our own heart? I believe it is the combination of all of the above. When we get to a place with God that our decisions are accountable to others, whether that be a wife, a board, or a few close friends who are committed to the same Godly ideals, this is when we are protected from the deceit of our own heart. This is one of the hardest things to yield to God -- the right to make our own decisions. Yet, it is the most elementary principle. God requires of us to receive His blessing in our lives.
This principle took a long time for me to appropriate. However, today I can tell you I would never make a major decision without the counsel of others who are close to me. Relational accountability has become lost in our culture due to our hunger for independence. I have experienced too often the hardship that results from making decisions that God isn't behind. Walking in obedience is the only real freedom in Christ.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. (Acts 5:32)
So often we as a society equate numbers with success. The larger the conference, the more successful we deem it. The larger a church, the more we believe that God is blessing. And so on. I recall planning a conference one time. Registrations were not where I felt they needed to be a few weeks before the date of the event. It wasn't long before I began to get "under the pile" about the level of attendance. My friend, who was organizing this conference with me, called and asked how I was doing. I had to confess where I was. He immediately reminded me of my own teaching in this area. We are all called to be led by the Spirit, not by outcomes. "If God called us to put on this conference, then the outcome is up to Him if we have done our part." He went on to explain how he learned this lesson in a similar way a few years earlier.
He and a friend were led to host a Bible study group. His friend was to speak. It was nine o'clock and they were the only two people there. His friend was discouraged and was ready to leave.
"No," said my friend. "We have done what the Holy Spirit directed." He then stood up and began to welcome people as though there were many in the room. (No one was in the room.) He introduced his friend and they began the meeting. A few minutes later, people began to straggle in. By the time the meeting was over, ten had shown up, and one man in particular was impacted by the meeting.
Being led by the Spirit often means we must not use the world's standard for success as our measuring stick. You never know what an act of obedience will yield at the time. We must leave results to God. Our role is to obey. His role is to bring results from our obedience.
Do you make decisions based on the potential outcome or by the direction of the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you overly evaluate the pros and cons without consideration to what the Holy Spirit might be saying deep inside? We are all prone to make decisions based on reasoning alone. Ask God to give you a willingness and ability to hear the Holy Spirit and to obey His promptings.
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle. (1 Chronicles 14:13).
The Philistines are attacking. David wants to know how to respond. His first inquiry of God reveals that He is to attack the Philistines straight away. God will give him victory. David follows the instruction of God and gains victory. Shortly after, the Philistines are mounting another attack. David inquires again, "So David inquired of God again, and God answered him, "Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees."
This is a most interesting thing that David does. Consider that David is a well-trained warrior. He is a strategist. Yet, we find that David's dependence upon God to direct his efforts is very great. In fact, after he wins the first battle he goes right back to inquire again. This is the most important lesson we can learn from this story. God tells David to attack, but only after he hears the marching in the balsam trees.
How many times have you or I operated in the marketplace based only upon our skill and ability without seeking to know the details of the will of God in the matter? David could have simply assumed since he won the last battle, surely God would automatically give him victory the same way. No. David had learned that communicating with the living God is the only sure way of victory. His skill was not enough. He had to have the blessing of God.
How many times have we worked in our business life the same way each time only because it was the way we did it last time. What if God has a better way for you? What if God has a different plan than ours? "So David inquired of God..." These are the important words that we are to learn from. We must be in such relationship with God that we are constantly inquiring of His mind on the matter. When we do this we can expect the same results that David achieved...success in our endeavor and recognition by God.
"So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him." This is the reward of obedience to God. We don't have to build a name for ourselves. God will see to it that you are honored for your obedience. He wants to make known those servants who are willing to obey Him at all costs.
Obedience With A Cost
"Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all" (Exodus 5:23).
Have you ever felt like you have been obedient to the Lord for something God called you to do and all you get are more roadblocks? This is the way Moses felt. When Moses went to tell Pharaoh to release the people because God said so, Pharaoh simply got angry and made the people make bricks without straw. Moses caught the blame for this from the people. It is interesting to see that Moses is just learning what obedience really means in the realm of God's Kingdom. You see, Moses has not even begun to release plagues upon Egypt. He hasn't even gotten started yet in his calling, and he is complaining about his circumstances. There are many more encounters with Pharaoh to come and many more plagues with no deliverances in sight. Why would God tell Moses that he is going to deliver them and not do it?
It was all in timing. God never said when He was going to deliver. He just said He would. In the next chapter, we find Moses arguing with God about not being capable of the job God has called him to, "But Moses said to the Lord, 'If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me since I speak with faltering lips?' Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt.'" Do you get the feeling God was losing His patience?
God had a good reason for His delays. He said, "And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it." God not only wanted the people of Israel to know Him, but also the Egyptians. It would be the greatest show of God's power on earth.
In your life and my life, God often causes delays that we cannot understand. Our obedience sometimes seems it is not getting rewarded. Jesus said He learned obedience through the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). Imagine that. Jesus having to learn obedience. What does that say for you and me? Sometimes God's delays are simply because He wants more glory in the situation, more recognition, more Christ-likeness in you and me through greater patience and obedience. Faint not, for the promise may yet come.
Placing Trust in Our Strength
"So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead" (1Chronicles 21:14).
When is the last time your overconfidence cost the lives of 70,000 men? That is exactly what happened to David. David made what might appear to be an innocent request of his general, Joab. But, the minute Joab heard the request, he cringed. He knew David was in big trouble for this one. You see, to number the troops was a great sin in Israel because it was against the law of Israel to do this. Why? Because it demonstrated that you were placing more trust in numbers than the living God. David displayed enough pride to cost the lives of 70,000 fighting men. God gave him three choices of punishment for his sin. A plague was the one he chose that resulted in the loss of 70,000.
Throughout the history of Israel, God set the stage for battles to be won, miracles to take place, and people to exercise faith. The stage was always set so that man could not take credit for what God did. Consider Gideon who was only allowed 300 to fight 100,000. Consider Jehoshophat, who had to lead his army with his singers. God defeated the enemy. Consider Joshua, who was told simply to walk around Jericho seven times, and they would get victory. God did things in some very unconventional ways!
How does this relate to you and me as business people? Well, the minute you and I place more trust in our abilities than in God, we are guilty of numbering the troops. How does He punish us? Sometimes it's through letting a deal go sour. Sometimes it's through problems with a client or vendor. Sometimes situations just blow up in our face. Other times, He lets us go on for a long time enveloped in His mercy, but eventually He deals with it.
The lesson here is to learn daily and complete dependence upon God. Use your gifts and abilities through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him daily for direction and wisdom. His ways won't always line up with conventional wisdom. When we begin depending on our abilities only, God has a responsibility to make known to us who is the giver of the blessings
Today's Prayer
Invite God into your work life and experience His presence.
Biblical Principles in Network Marketing
As a Pastor, Bill Nissen was against Network Marketing for years. In 2003, a friend helped
him see a new perspective. He still dislikes the ethics of many who do it, but he sees a
biblical perspective that allows him to not only support network marketing, but embrace it as
a way to serve people. Watch This Video. It is longer than most (20 minutes) but carries essential information.
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