We were recently looking to purchase some furniture and part of the discerning process was to say “if wasn’t still available for purchase a week later it must not have been meant to be”. If I really believe that God didn’t give it, then I must not need it; conversely, I must believe the opposite is true too– that if He gave me something, I must need to use it.
Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.” Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.” – 2 Kings 13:15-19
Jehoash, the King of Israel, went to see the prophet Elisha to pay respects and to seek his wise counsel perhaps for the last time. The king was scared because his enemies were pressing in on all sides and as far as he could see to the North, South, East & West his empire was collapsing. So Elisha instructs him how to fightback and the key to destroying his enemies.
When King Jehoash, a man who did not know God, only shot half his arrows, he won the battle but lost the war. His holding back of his resources was a lack of faith. He kept some just in case, when I think, God was saying that this is my victory so give me all of your ammo, give me your fight, and give me your entire heart but the king just couldn’t do it.
Are you using all of your time, talent, and resources that God has given you or are you stopping short like King Jehoash?
- You have the gift of hospitality but you don’t entertain?
- You have experiences that a young start-up company could learn from but it might inconvenience you to meet at 6am?
- You have material possessions that you aren’t letting others use?
He’s waiting for you to give Him all of yourself in faith.
Reflection |
Would your current situation change if you trusted Him with everything you have?