If
we profess to be believers in Jesus Christ and trusting in God’s Name, His
Word, and Jesus Christ, we should not be placing our trust in any other since
we have been given the assurance saying; “He
(Jesus Christ) is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in
heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and
for Him. And He is
before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the
preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).
Let us consider this for a moment,
since Jesus Christ is before all things and in Him all things consist and the
same power He used to create all things is now in the believer why should one
who profess to believe in Jesus Christ place their trust in the following?
a.
Weapons to defend themselves against their enemies
For
it is written; “It is through God we will push back our enemies, it is through
God’s name we trample our foes, we do not trust in our weapon, our weapon does
not bring us victory, but God gives us victory over our enemies, He put our
enemies to shame” (Psalms 44:5-7).
b.
Wealth:
Whether
it be a hefty solid bank account, a good comprehensive insurance, a good solid
pension plan, a reliable investment, or a secure job, because, those who trust
in their wealth and boast of their great riches, can by any means redeem his
brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. The instructions given to us by the
Lord therefore is, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does
not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
In
light of this, Jesus Christ gave a parable of the ground of a certain rich man
which yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, “What shall I
do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said. I will do this: I will
pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store my crops and my
goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many
years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry,” But God said to him, ‘You
fool! This night your soul will be required of you, then whose will those
things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasures for himself, and
is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21).
Instead
of being anxious and fearful when things seems gloomy, we are admonished to,
“Consider the birds of the air who do not sow or reap, have no store room or
barn; yet God feeds them. And consider how the lilies grow, they do not labor
or spin, yet even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. And
if God feed the birds which have neither storehouse or barn: and clothes the
grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how
much more will He feed and clothe us, who are of more value than birds and
lilies.
Therefore,
we are not to set our hearts on what we will eat, or drink; nor have any
anxious mind. For all these things the Gentiles (those who do not know God) seek
after, and our Father knows that we need these things. But seek the kingdom of
God and all these things shall be added to you” (Luke 12:27-31).
Those
who have placed their trust in God are to be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving, should make their
requests known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guide their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 6-7).
If
one who has surrendered his/her life to God becomes despondent, discouraged,
fearful, and anxious when the situation looks bleak, it simply means that
his/her trust is not in God, but in the things which makes him/her feels
secure.
c.
Leaders
Those
who have placed their trust in the Lord are admonished to; “Not to put their
trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save because when their spirit
departs they return to the ground, on that very day their plans come to
nothing” (Psalms 146:3-4).
d.
Man.
For it is written; “Cursed is the man who
trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength, whose heart depart from the Lord.”
One can never know when a man will stop being faithful to God, and turn away
from the way of God (Jeremiah 17:5).
e.
Works
Anyone
who places his/her trust in works and their treasures strengthens him/herself
in his/her wickedness. For thus says the Lord; “Let not the wise man glory in
his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man
glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands
and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment and
righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord” (Jeremiah
9:23; 48:7, Psalms 52:7).
f.
Righteousness
For
thus says the Lord, “When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but
he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous
works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed he
shall die” (Ezekiel 33:13).
If we
have truly surrendered our life to God our trust should not be in the things of
this world and in the wisdom of men but should be completely in the power of
God.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BFP1SMV
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4WTWQ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077M5T68T
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYGDD7M
To be continued
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
No comments:
Post a Comment