Self-pity and self-piety
So, here we are, back to Elijah. I didn't mean to write about Elijah - I mean, I really didn't. I was coaxed towards thinking about why God used an earthquake, a fire and a gale when He wasn't in it (I Kings 19: 11,12 - "11Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire;" ) . But then, dad pointed something out to me that shook me.This I hope wouldn't be one of my usual long messages (I admit to having difficulty with penning anything that would fit inside one page, for as long as I can remember) but am hoping brevity works it's magic this time.
I want to take your attention back to I kings 19:10 `10So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."' Elijah was despondent. For all that he had achieved - and let me tell you, this man was no underachiever - he had nothing in him to prepare for Jezebel's word that she'd cut his head off before the next day arrived.
You might argue that it happens with everyone - day after day of faithfully serving the Lord and being powerfully used by Him. Of course it is true, but self-pity is not to be condoned. Self-pity leads you into depression and a whole lot of other things God has no room for in your life, let alone you having room for that if you want to keep burning. But self-piety is another thing entirely. I have been very zealous! I have done this! I was instrumental in that! I... I... I!!! That's self-piety for you. And it doesn't paint a very nice picture now does it?
It made me think. Maybe, God was trying to show Elijah that a gale, fire, earthquake were all greater than any damage Jezebel could inflict on Elijah, but then, Elijah repeats his self-pitying and self-edifying speech again, after not-so-subtle proof that God was supreme in I kings 19: 14. And the result? More than Elijah could ever have bargained for. Of course, he didn't go down just like that, but with trumpets blaring - anointing kings for God's purposes to come true... but there was a catch. The still small voice rang like a bell. Elijah was over. Elisha was next!
Think about Barak, the son of Ahinoam in Judges 4:1-11. He was ready, and for all practical reasoning, only asked the prophetess to accompany Him for added assurance, but then, God didn't approve of it, did He? Take Moses. The man who knew God face to face... and it took just one mistake - one small mistake mind you, that pretty much took place in a fit of anger, that stripped Moses of the mantle of taking God's children to the promised land and put it on Joshua. And here again, we see God commanded Elijah to anoint his successor. Are you listening???
I know it is difficult. Life on God's lane ain't easy. Everyone seems to overtake you and you're the only one who seems to be held up at every traffic signal. People may talk, backbite, taunt or do a hundred other things that only the devil could make them think of. But remember. God loves you, and the more you grow closer to Him, the more He expects of you. So what if your life seems to be much more complicated than the next christian around?
Never forget! God knows and decides to whom the five talents go and to whom the single talent. And like the Bible so clearly specifies, He expects more from you than your project manager would. It is hard, but then, even Spiderman would tell you that with great power, comes great responsibility. And what did Jesus say? [Matthew 3:8-10 - "8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9and do not think to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." ]
posted by Finney @ 12:30 AM
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