ITCHY EARS?

Be very clear as to what you want.

The greeks said that when the god’s want to punish someone, they give the person what he wants. Getting what we want and doing whatever we naturally want— is the definition of slavery and the total loss of identity. Instead of turning to God for real worth, power and security, we look to people, things, activities etc. for a sensation of worth power and security. That sensation is a total illusion. The things that we indulge in and think that we control, think they will satisy ; soon turn on us, control us and leave us emptier than ever. The word of God says that God, “gave them the desire of their hearts and sent leanness to their souls!” Psalm 106:15

When we go to church, what do we really want to hear? The Bible says that the time will come when people do not want to hear sound doctrine. “Please, no talking of our sin, repentance, and owing God and others.” So we will heap to ourselves useless teachers who will tickle our itching ears. 2Timothy 4:3 We figure if there are lots and lots of “teachers” spouting the same froth, then it must be OK.

Sometimes, what we want is OK but it is not the best. Solomon could have asked for riches and power and fame. He asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. God was pleased. However what he should have asked for was the strength to stay godly under the temptations that would inevitably flow from being a wise leader. He crashed and burned and destroyed Israel’s future and died, (in my opinion) as the most foolish man that ever lived.

The blind man came to Jesus and Jesus asked him, “What do you want?” Seems obvious, doesn’t it? The man asked for his sight, which showed that he had faith that Jesus could heal him. What he should have asked for was forgiveness of sin, and a close walk with Jesus. We do not know how he used his new sight but we hope that he expanded what he wanted to the higher things.

Remember that the “good” can be the enemy of the best.

“Lord, help me to be aware of what I really want and then freely admit that part of me wants lesser and even wrong things. I want the least of you that I have to endure in order to feel good. Still, at the same time, part of me wants your will and not mine. You know what is best for me, give me yourself and what is best for me and for your kingdom.”

I remember reading of a man who asked God to do whatever it takes to give him a greater ministry for God and his kingdom and to increase his personal walk in righteousness. He promptly crashed his private plane, almost died, slowly recovered. Five years later he realized that he had a vastly greater ministry for the kingdom than he ever would have without the struggles. God’s best might not involve such dramatic events and could be as simple as walking with abundance in a troubled marriage, or doing with diligence a boring, thankless job.

When you shrink back from such a path, remember that Jesus will walk each step with you giving you strength beyond yourself and the comfort of open relationship with him. James says, “count it total joy when you fall into trial, knowing that they will produce patience which will produce all other virtues.” When it is virtue that enables us to help others that we want, then even trial will be countable as joyous. James 1:2-4