How much have we stored up for a rainy day? I know that in my house I am looking to make sure that we have something for those emergency, just in case scenarios that sneak up on you. I believe it is important to have a nest egg to fall back on in case of extreme circumstances. This is all part of being prepared. But there is a limit and I have to be careful not to rely on myself to save me in those time of need. I have to be sure that I am not storing up more than I need and am taking what I am able and giving back to God so that others can do His work as well.

We have no idea when God is coming back, but when He does, there is no amount of money or other monetary worth that will matter or that can save us.

“¹⁹They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.” – Ezekiel 7:19 (ESV)

Gold and silver are not the answer to salvation. Not matter how much of it we have. When the Lord comes again, we can give it or throw it away, and still there will be nothing it can do to save us from the wrath of the LORD. The damage has already been done and we are now living with the consequences of our actions and hoarding of monetary gain as opposed to doing the work of God and giving back all that we are able to Him.

How are you doing in the area of monetary gain? Where is your focus and how much do you need to deliver you from the wrath of God? What if you gave back all you were able and relied on God to deliver you?

God is bigger than you or me or anyone. If it is He that owns everything, then what can we give to Him that will be big enough for Him?

“⁶But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?” – 2 Chronicles 2:6 (ESV)

As I read this morning I see two things in the above verse. 1) How big does the place need to be? 2) Can I make it good enough?

1) Well, the place, we would think that it would have to be immense in size to contain God and all that He is. As noted in the verse, “heaven cannot contain him”. Would it have to be bigger than a city itself, or maybe bigger than the state of Texas? Not hardly. When building a place for God, I have to remember that it is what is coming from the heart that matters most. And God will accept and inhabit anything that is erected in His name and for Him. Remember that we should be giving willingly all that we are able to give.

“⁹Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” – 1 Chronicles 29:9 (ESV)

2) What if it cannot be made “good enough” for God? David and Solomon were building a temple that was of the finest that they could find, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Precious Stones. And still, Solomon questioned as to whether if would be good enough for God. And in reality, God is just looking for us to devote to Him and for us to again give all that we are able. Lest we remember the woman that gave the last of her coins?

“⁴¹And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴²And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. ⁴³And he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. ⁴⁴For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’” – Mark 12:41-44 (ESV)

God only wants us to give back to him out of our heart. Whether that is the biggest and best, or modest and conservative, when we are giving back to Him and building for Him out of our heart and devoting to Him and for His glory, then it is surely Big and Good Enough.

Where does your building for God fit? Are you looking to build grandly for all to see? What if you were simply to build for God and Him alone, what if it were Big and Good Enough?

What a concept for us to embrace. We are not giving to God, but giving “back” to Him what He has lent us while here.

“¹⁴But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. ¹⁵For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. ¹⁶O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.” – 1 Chronicles 29:14-16 (ESV)

David is praying to God after the people have made offerings for the building of the temple. Giving by which was done “willingly” and “with a whole heart” (1 Chronicles 29:9 (ESV)).

The people were following the lead of David who gave willingly himself. His prayer, demonstrates the understanding that we are only here for a while and all that we have has been provided by God for us to use while here.

God gives freely to us as we travel this world doing His work. It is our duty to give “back” to Him willingly. Our giving back allows for others to do work for Him that He has tasked them with. This is God providing for others just as He had provided for us from others.

I know, from what goes on in my own mind, that giving is something that should be natural and easy to do. But, as a man, I have the tendency to keep what I have and use it for me and my family. So being reminded that I am not giving, but giving “back” is important for me to embrace as I work through each day. I must remember that what I have is not mine, but God’s who is allowing me to use it while here.

What about your possessions, are they yours, really? Are you giving “back” to God and doing so freely? What if you approached your giving as giving “back”?

“¹³You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. ¹⁷Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.” – Deuteronomy 16:13 & 17 (ESV)

As I read this morning, I am reminded that we are blessed with what we have or are able to produce. The passage above is referencing, as you can see, the Feast of Booths. This is a yearly celebration in the fall after the harvest of the summer fruits. The men of the area were to come together to celebrate the harvest and anticipate the blessings of the next harvest.

During this feast and celebration, the men were to bring and give a portion of their harvest to God. And whereas all men did not harvest the same amount, they were all required to give. And give back, as you see, “as he is able”. There was no set amount that was due, only you were to give what you were able based on your harvest and needs.

How much is what you are able, and where are you to give it? That is what is missing in the discussions I see happening in the world with regard to taxation and responsibility to others. I know that there are those that have a great harvest year in and year out and are giving what they are required and then giving to other areas that are not required and all of it may add up to what they are able. That amount and if they are giving what they are able is between them and God and not for me to be concerned with.

For me and my relationship with God, I have to remember to give all that I am able. Sometimes that may not be financial or monetary giving, but the giving of my time and love for others and providing the help that they are in need of at the time. There are times when providing a helping hand with the lawn, carrying the groceries, or sitting and having a conversation are all the help that is needed and I know that we are all able to provide in those instances. Giving all that you are able is what is required and we should not feel guilty for not doing more.

When you look at your giving, what is it that you are giving? Can you divide it out and say that you are giving all that you are able? What if you are not, will you work to give a bit more to reach that threshold of giving all that you are able?

God has a plan for each of us even though that plan is not known to each of us. I know that I get frustrated with God on a regular basis because I do not know or see where or what comes next for me. All of that said, there are examples of God stating His plan and then a conversation is had and He seemingly changes course based on that conversation.

In Numbers Chapter 14, the people were rebelling and complaining that their lives were better in Egypt as opposed to being free in the wilderness at the hand of God. In this passage, God has had enough and is ready to strike them all down in punishment for their ingratitude and rebellious actions. But, Moses takes up the mantle for the people and pleads with God to give them another chance.

“¹⁵Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ¹⁶‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ ¹⁹Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” – Numbers 14:15-16 & 19 (ESV)

What a bold move by Moses, or was it? You see, Moses had the kind of relationship with God that we all should have. One that was open and honest and full of conversation and communication. Moses was willing to step in and do what was right by the people in his charge, even if that meant pleading with God Himself. And, it worked.

“²⁰Then the LORD said, ‘I have pardoned, according to your word. ²¹But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, ²²none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, ²³shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.’” – Numbers 14:20-23 (ESV)

I know, yes, God still punished the people and did not allow them to enter the promised land, but, He did not strike them down as He originally was going to do. I would say that is a pretty significant adjustment.

Now, would God have really struck the people down, we will never know? Based on my first sentence in this posting, God has a plan for each of us. That plan, is based on a beginning and end though, and the journey to the end is what can or may change as we go along. I hold that God’s plan was still in play even with the course correction. He promised to deliver the people and get them the promised land. He did not say when or who exactly would be entering. Moses understood that God is the one who controls all and therefore went to Him pleading for the people and with that intercession, God changed course slightly for Moses and yet also maintained His plan to the end.

We have an opportunity daily to speak with God and ask for those course corrections. Sometimes God will oblige and others He may not. In either scenario, His plan will play out in the end.

When it comes to the plans God has for you, are you willing to discuss them with God? Even as those play out for others, will you go to God and intercede for them? What if you did and God did change course slightly?

“¹⁰Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. ¹¹Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?” – Numbers 11:10-11 (ESV)

Moses was having a difficult time of things as God was dealing with the Israelite people. The people were complaining profusely as they were missing some of what they had while slaves in Egypt. They were not happy with their freedom and with their NEEDS being met and so they were complaining and not doing anything to change their situation. As such Moses was hearing it all and was overwhelmed and needed help. So he asked for that help from God.

“¹⁴I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” – Numbers 11:14-15 (ESV)

Now there is a lot to unpack with regard to this full passage about the complaining and the next, but the focus of my study is one of asking for help and receiving. God heard Moses’ plea for help and in the next two verses demonstrated His love by providing that help.

“¹⁶Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. ¹⁷And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.” – Numbers 11:16-17 (ESV)

Moses asked and God provided the solution. Divide the burden among elders or as mentioned in Exodus 18, “able men”. God would take some of the burden that was on Moses and place it upon those men so as to relieve His servant Moses.

Now the lesson learned here is about how often do we continue to “go it alone” and not ask for the help we need. This year, my word is “Self” as I look to relieve myself of some of the burden and off-load things to others so that I can focus on me and my mission and purpose for the LORD. As such it is important for me to ask for help when I need it, and that does not mean just from those that are here in the world with me. I should be asking for help from God and know that he wants to and will provide for my needs.

How is it that you approach things each day? Are you working to “go it alone”? What if you were to ask for help from those around you and especially from the LORD?

About a year ago I was studying the word “chose” and came to the passage in Exodus 18 where Moses was given advice to delegate his work to others. This morning I was led to that same passage as I study the word “able”.

I should be allowing and empowering those around me to do more of the work, at least the small things, so that I can focus my attention on the bigger things and those things that God has in store for me.

“²⁵Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” – Exodus 18:25 (ESV)

Delegating things out does free up time and attention for other things, that is when they are delegated to those that want to and will do the work. You see, just moving things to someone else, so you do not have to do it, is not delegating, it is dele-dumping and the quality of the work will surely suffer. As Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, recommended, we should be choosing “able men” to do the work. These “able men” are those that not only have the position but also have the skills and desire to do the work. They should be asked and not told what is needed to allow for the opportunity to understand and buy into the very idea of the work, and not just to do something else. Working to get the right person for the job and not just someone to do the job is the approach that should be taken.

I have led teams in the past and in doing so have taken both the, “if you want something done right, do it yourself” approach as well as the “here, do this” approach, and neither of them fared to well. Either I worked myself silly “trying” to get everything done, and alienating my team, or I worked the team silly and offered nothing in return for the work done. It was not until I began asking for help and explaining why and what was in it for all that the team began to respond and improved performance for all was realized. I analyzed and discussed with each person to determine the right job for each of them and I found the “able men” for each task that freed me up to do the work that only I was able to do.

God has tasks for each of us and those tasks are designed to grow His kingdom. But, they are also tasks chosen for us to take advantage of the gifts He gave us. We are to buy into the tasks as we are chosen as “able men” for those items that allow God to continue His work in the areas that only He can do the work.

What areas have you deprived others of doing work? When work is being separated, what is the process for determining who does that work? What if you sought the “able men” instead of just someone to do the work, what are your thought on the success of the items and those chosen?

God provides for me, even when I am not so sure that He will. And even when I may not see what He is doing.

“⁵And he brought him outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the starts, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’” – Genesis 15:5 (ESV)

Here is God speaking with Abram, who is a bit concerned that an heir for all that he has will not come from his own lineage. Abram was without an heir and was getting up in age and could see not prospects of that being solved. And so was coming to grips with someone of his household inheriting all that he had accumulated.

God was not done yet. He was fully faithful to His servant Abram. He promised him more offspring than he could count, by making him the father of nations. God was giving something that could not be seen by the human eye. Abram could not see it, but believed.

“⁶And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6 (ESV)

God’s blessings on my life are not something that I can always see. I am just here to continue with doing the work of and for God. He continues to work in my life and provide for me and my family. I am not able to see, nor count the blessings He is heaping on me with my human eyes. I have to have an eye for and on Him to even begin to see the blessings. Counting them on the other hand is not possible. Just as Abram was unable to count the stars in the sky as to the heirs he would have, I am unable to count them as a representation of the blessings God gives to me.

When you look at your life, are you able to see all the blessings God provides for you? What are just some of them? Can you count them all?

“²⁴No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…” – Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

I have studied this verse a number of times over the past few years and each time I am led to something a bit different. Here this morning, I am reminded that I can be devoted to only one at a time.

I believe that we as a society are misguided into thinking that we are able to pour ourselves into just about anything at any time. And I feel like most of us have heard many people, even possibly ourselves, indicate that we/they are great at multi-tasking. And we are led to believe that it is possible and important to be able to do so. In reality, as humans, we are only able to focus on one thing at a time. Our brains are not capable of splitting our energy into multiple complex tasks all at once.

I know that you are thinking about how we can drive and sing along to the music and carry on a conversation as we go, but really, your driving is a habit and the singing does not really take that much brain power, so your focus is really on the conversation.

So how does this relate to the verse above. You see, I have to remember that I am only able to devote my full energy and work to only one thing at a time and that should be God and God alone. When I am devoted to God, all else is either accomplished by habit or will be a part of His plan, and all else gets neglected as not important. If I were to turn the tables and focus on the “all else” then God will be neglected and my service to Him is non-existent. It is up to us to find and focus on what is really important.

“²¹For where you treasure is, there you heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21 (ESV)

I am growing each and every day. I am allowing myself to be devoted to God more and more as the days go along. I have to continue this path and remember that with God as my “treasure”, my “heart” will be with Him. Devoted to just one and that one is God.

How are you finding yourself as pertains to multi-tasking? What is it that takes up all of your focus? Are you devoted to just one, and what if that one were God?

“¹⁴And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” – Titus 3:14 (ESV)

Paul is wrapping up his letter to Titus and in doing so is giving final instructions. This verse is telling of instructions that we should all take to heart. As Christians, it is our duty to do the works of God that He has for us. Those works will be inherently good. And those good works will be used to help those in need. And when helping those in need, we will be fruitful.

It is not enough to do good works, as Paul writes, we are to devote ourselves to them. A good work may provide temporary relief, but our devotion to do and maintain good works is where we find the permanent relief from the difficulty surrounding us. It is in that devotion that the fruitfulness is really manifested.

I think of the farmers that plant seed and then water, and fertilize, and weed, and prune, and then harvest. Just planting the seed is not enough to get the full fruitfulness of the crop. The planting is just the beginning. It is the devotion to the work that the crop is realized for the results that are being sought.

What does it look like for you and good works? Are you continuing to do the good work? What if you devoted yourself to the good work to be fruitful?