My walk with the Lord #2a Are you a bean counter ?? (25jul2004)

God and you : are you a bean counter???
(15th July 2004)

‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it’
Psalm

In reality, rare is the day that anyone can say that they are happy always.
Even unthinkable will one be able to express joy and gladness in periods of pain and sorrow.

The Word of God says

- ‘be joyful always, pray continually in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’
1 Thessalonians 5:16

- ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth’
Psalm 34:1

The Word of God also says

‘Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God.’
Psalm 103:1

For God :
- forgives all sins (Psalm 103:3)
- heals all your diseases(Psalm 103:3)
- crowns you with love and compassion(Psalm 103:4)
- satisfies your desires with good things(Psalm 103:5)
- the Lord is compassionate and gracious(Psalm 103:8)
- the Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love(Psalm 103:9)
- does not always accuse nor will He harbour His anger forever(Psalm 103:9)
- He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities(Psalm 103:10)

‘For this is God. Our God forever and ever. He will be our guide. Even to death’
Psalm 48:14

‘The Lord is nigh to all who will call upon Him’
Psalm 145:18

‘The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all’
Psalm 145:8
Then, why do we count our beans with God???

1) For the blessed, in terms of things of this world

You might disagree. For you think that you honour God.
You
- give generously in church, albeit with some pain
- attend church diligently unless something pops up eg client meeting, a family outing, or something that God will understand
- seek to attain knowledge rather than a relationship with God
- with our intelligence and status in life, we think we know what is good for God, without the need to seek His will
- we actively talk down to people about why their life is a mess unlike us
- and so on and so forth

‘For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?’
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?’
Psalm 89:6

2) For the downtrodden, the aggrieved, at least we have reasons to doubt God??

But the Word of God says:

‘For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted’
Psalm 22:24

So, God why are we in this sad state of affairs??

‘Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed’
Psalm 143:4

‘All this happened to us though we had not forgotten you or been false to Your covenant’
Psalm 44:17

The Word of God says:

‘…For in Your sight, no one living is righteous’
Psalm 143:2

‘If You, Lord, should mark iniquities. O Lord, who could stand?’
But there is forgiveness with You.’
Psalm 130:3-4

God wants us to be patient

‘I wait for the Lord, my soul waits. And in His word I do hope’
Psalm 130:5




For God is perfecting us,

‘The Lord will perfect that which concerns me:
Your mercy O Lord, endures forever’
Psalm 138:8

God wants us to trust and obey always

‘I will praise You forever for what You have done.
In Your name I will hope’
Psalm 52:9

For God is there always

‘Though the Lord is on high. Yet He regards the lowly. But the proud He knows from afar.’
Psalm 138:6

Rather than question God,

‘For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them’
Luke 9:56

‘Your mercy O Lord endures forever’
Psalm ???


Should we not question ourselves first??

‘Search me, O Lord and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting’
Psalm 139:22-24





Look to eternity rather than the temporal

‘What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave’
Psalm 89:48

An inquiring mind opens us to the richness of God’s response, a doubting mind closes the door to our seeing God’s response.


‘Who among the gods is like You, O Lord’
Exodus 15:11

‘Therefore you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect’
Luke 12:40