When your car needs repairs, you don’t take it to an appliance serviceman, do you? And today’s sophisticated cars, with computerized systems, etc., you cannot even always take to a general automotive mechanic—you have to take it to a manufacturer’s authorized, factory-trained specialist. The guys who can fix your Ford may not be able to repair your Mistsubishi! Sometimes while fixing one problem, they cause another.
I believe that in a similar unhealthy way, too many Christians are going to the wrong sources for counselling, direction, and wisdom. The only one who knows how we were born again and made a new creation is the one who created us. To go to another source is both folly and futile. God’s Word says, “If any, of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and abraideth not, and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
Why is it that too often people wait till their lives are falling apart, their marriages are faltering, their businesses and finances are failing, and they are full of anxiety and despair, before they ask for God’s direction? We should look to God as our first resource—not our last resort!
If we would learn to “acknowledge Him in all our ways, He shall direct our paths.” Instead, we make even worse mis-steps when “we lean unto our own understanding” (Ref. Proverbs 3:5-6). We might be suprised to discover that God truly does care about every detail of our lives, and when we trust Him with all our desires, decisions, and deals, His direction will come. No matter how much we may feel we are capable of doing it ourselves, His is the only foolproof, Christ-honoring way, because He not only knows all about our needs, He knows the future!
One of the most fascinating things I love about studying the O.T. books of Moses, is the details—details—details! Someone has said, “The devil is in the details,” but I have found that God is in the details! Why so many repetitious instructions and ceremonial commandments, especially concerning washing and purifying everything from clothes to cups to pots and pans and flesh? Now we realize that these were necessary for hygienic and medical safety, as well as spiritual significance. We now look back and understand it—God knew it when there was no human knowledge of such things.
God taught His people how to sow their crops and cook their food. Isaiah tells of God’s teaching wisdom and knowledge to His people on how to prepare the soil, plant the various grains so as to preserve their nutritious qualities. He said of the farmer: “For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him…. This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working” (Isa. 28:26 & 29). “His God” is none other than the One who created the soil and the seed!
He Gives Both the Desire & the Do!
God knows how to give counsel and sound business advice, because His is the manufacturer and understands all the laws and principles, “and hath given unto us all things that pertain to our life and our godliness” (2 Peter 1:3)—And He excels at working them in us and through us! “For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). God always supplies the “do” in those who allow His will to be done. It’s time to seek God for every issue and plan of our hearts so that “He may instruct us and teach us the way which we should go and guide us with His (all-seeing) eye” (Ps. 32:8). Personally, I’m tired of going down blind alleys, dead ends, and around the same mountain over and over. Whenever I find myself in any of these scenarios, I say, “Lord, show me where I missed it, and help me not to fall for it again!”
Years ago I was the secretary to the owner of an office supply manufacturing company. We also did various customized products for companies. Such items were not mass produced and called for special attention to detail. When mistakes were made, we had to eat them. Consequently, he was always citing the proverb, “Haste makes waste.” I heard this so much till it became a part of my thinking even in the spiritual realm, and it is Scriptural. Proverbs 14:29 states, “He that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”
I believe it pains God to see us suffering because of our bad choices, just like it does us when our kids make them. He lamented through the prophet: “…I am the LORD thy God which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go” (Isaiah 48:17). “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isa. 30:21).
If you’ve come to a place where you don’t know whether to go right or left, and the consequences of a wrong turn are great, do you think God will abandon you then? No, Child of God, your Father loves you too much to leave you in the lurch. Ask for wisdom! Ask for directions! Ask in faith that He will answer. Then wait patiently on His voice:
“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:20-21).
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