Is Not Their Prosperity in Their Hand?
They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’ Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Job 21:11–16
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Is Not Their Prosperity in Their Hand?
The world looks at religion in general and Christianity specifically and laughs. For those without faith belief in God is a joke. They survey what they have and surmise this is all there is. For those who have been successful in life the temptation is even greater to lean on one’s own understanding and convince themselves that they are the masters of their own domain. Afterall, the world tells them the measure of success is weighed in money and possession, status and power. For those who have it this belief is a self-fulfilling prophesy, for those who don’t they chase after the illusion their entire life. Christians are not immune to this way of thinking. The temptations for us are as real as they are for anyone. We pray and it is not answered in our time frame or to our liking and we question, “what profit do we get if we pray to him?” The truth is that we all need Christ and His righteousness. We all need salvation won for us on the cross. This is true for everyone. So, we don’t look to the material blessings as proof of God’s love and favor, but to the spiritual blessings, faith, hope, and love. We look to Calvary for evidence of our prosperity and survey the empty tomb to know the promise is kept. We return to our Baptism daily to overcome the temptations of sin, death, and the devil. When the question is asked, “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? “ or answer is resolute He is our righteousness, He is our Salvation!
Job 21:11–16
+
Is Not Their Prosperity in Their Hand?
The world looks at religion in general and Christianity specifically and laughs. For those without faith belief in God is a joke. They survey what they have and surmise this is all there is. For those who have been successful in life the temptation is even greater to lean on one’s own understanding and convince themselves that they are the masters of their own domain. Afterall, the world tells them the measure of success is weighed in money and possession, status and power. For those who have it this belief is a self-fulfilling prophesy, for those who don’t they chase after the illusion their entire life. Christians are not immune to this way of thinking. The temptations for us are as real as they are for anyone. We pray and it is not answered in our time frame or to our liking and we question, “what profit do we get if we pray to him?” The truth is that we all need Christ and His righteousness. We all need salvation won for us on the cross. This is true for everyone. So, we don’t look to the material blessings as proof of God’s love and favor, but to the spiritual blessings, faith, hope, and love. We look to Calvary for evidence of our prosperity and survey the empty tomb to know the promise is kept. We return to our Baptism daily to overcome the temptations of sin, death, and the devil. When the question is asked, “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? “ or answer is resolute He is our righteousness, He is our Salvation!
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January
In One SpiritHe is ComingA Light for the NationsDepart in PeaceThe BenedictionWise Men SeeTrusting in the EmptinessWilted BlossomsConceiving TroubleWhat Comfort?SolaceWorn OutTorn With WrathLike a WarriorA Pure PrayerHeavenly WitnessA Ready GraveA Pledge for YouA Byword of the PeoplesHold OnNight into DayWhere is My Hope?Into the DustHunting for WordsOur Own FlameCaught in a TrapDeath ConsumesTo Know GodMy ErrorsNo JusticeHe Has Taken the Crown
February
No AnswerForsakenRock BottomRedemption!The Root of the MatterDo You Not Know?Fly AwayBittersweetUpon the RiversConstant CravingsBurning AngerEnduring WitnessesGod’s PortionKeep ListeningThe Rod of GodIs Not Their Prosperity in Their Hand?The Lamp of the WickedEqualizationThe House of the PrinceEmpty NothingsProfitable to GodOutward AppearancesWater Covers YouWhat Does God Know?Foundations Washed AwayConsumed by the FireGold and SilverLife Up Your Face to God
March
He Saves the LowlyBitter ComplaintsOur CaseIn the Greatness of His PowerFaithful EyesUnchangeableNo Fear of the DarknessTimes of JudgementGleaning the VineyardThe Soul of the WoundedRebelling Against the LightMorningBroken TreesBrought Low and Gathered UpPeace in the High HeavensA Dimming MoonEnough!Sheol and AbaddonThe Boundary Between Light and DarknessFleeing SerpentMy Bitter SoulAltogether VainDust and SilverReaping the WhirlwindAn End to DarknessThe Hidden ThingsTrue WisdomThe Place of UnderstandingBehold, the Fear of the LordDays Gone ByTo Be Called Blessed