“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Poukisa ou enkyete? I was asked that once by Pastor Israel Isidor and in English it’s translated ‘why do you worry?’ Why do we worry sometimes and act like we don’t have a Heavenly Father? When we worry about our provisions it is like saying “I really don’t think that God can possibly meet my needs.” One hot sticky afternoon while living in Haiti I was at the office and I had a sour attitude because Joey kept asking me for money for diesel, for food, for paper and I spun around in my chair and slammed my wallet down on our table and removed every paper gourdes that was left for the remaining weeks of that month and harshly told him to “Take all of it! God will take care of me.” I was upset at myself for becoming like so many other mission groups that were and still are promoting self-dependency attitudes in Haiti. The people living in Haiti’s trust is being placed on North America dollars to meet their needs and consequently they are not placing their trust in our Heavenly Father. Well-meaning North Americans are wanting to help bring people to trust in Christ but are sadly teaching them to trust North America. The Haitian school children in the photo place their trust in Bondeye…our Triune God because He always brings food to their school. The only time they doubt that is when the vodou people insist that God doesn’t love or care about them but when they get to school and see the food they are reassured that He does…and the vodou people are liars. Trinity/HOPE is promoting self-self-sufficiency measures to help them reach a point in time where the feeding programs are totally run and funded by Haitian Christians. Trusting in our Triune God really forces us to live by faith as He is in total control…it ain’t about us…it’s all about Him. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus’ that were written by Frances R. Havergal in 1874.
“I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, trusting only Thee; trusting Thee for full salvation, great and free. I am trusting Thee for pardon; at Thy feet I bow, for Thy grace and tender mercy trusting now. I am trusting Thee for cleansing in the crimson flood; trusting Thee to make me holy by Thy blood. I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead, ev'ry day and hour supplying all my need. I am trusting Thee for power; Thine can never fail. Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me must prevail. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; never let me fall. I am trusting Thee forever and for all.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay