1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

God has given us so much that we can’t begin to grasp it all without the help of the Holy Spirit! The Japanese makes it clear that these are grace gifts, not anything we have worked for, so that makes it all the more imperative that we have the Holy Spirit’s guidance in understanding them. There is actually a great deal of misunderstanding of what God gives or doesn’t give. People become jealous of spiritual gifts, sometimes because those who have them parade them like merit badges. People don’t have because they don’t ask, or because they are focused on physical comfort and/or pleasure, as James reminds us, (James 4:2) We tend to think that what we have is just for us, when that is rarely the case. God blesses one so that they may in turn be a channel of blessing to another, and all may give thanks to God. Even the ability to work and gain wealth that way is a gift from God (Deuteronomy 8:17-18) that is to be used in turn to provide for and bless others. (1 Timothy 4:8) Some people want to use God as a celestial ATM, just as the US government is training so many people to be dependent on welfare. This actually has been a problem since the earliest days of the Church, and Paul had a very crisp answer: “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) God supplies abundantly, beyond all we could ask or think, (Ephesians 3:20) but He doesn’t spoil us, because He is the perfect Father. We really need the help of the Holy Spirit to keep all of that straight!

As a pastor, not only do I need to let the Holy Spirit open my eyes as to all the Father has given us in Christ, I also need to be His agent in guiding the believers into that same understanding. I need to be willing to be as blunt as Paul was to the Thessalonians, but be very careful that everything I say is in love. (Ephesians 4:15) There are those who, because of their life experiences to this point, have real difficulty trusting God for His provision. I need to be gentle with them, sharing my knowledge of God’s faithfulness from my own experience without putting them down for their lack of faith. I have a lot of stories to tell in that area! At the same time I need wisdom in dealing with those who demand from God, who insist that He do things the way they have laid out in their minds. I can’t say I’ve never done that myself! It all boils down to listening to the Holy Spirit with a responsive heart. If I will do that, He will take care of everything else.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the many things You are teaching all of us in this church in these days. May we receive the lessons with grateful hearts, growing as You desire and intend, so that all of Your purposes for us, individually and as a church, may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!