Help Wanted

Today, we don't see the "Help Wanted" sign, or hear of help wanted as often as we have in the past. With the economy in a slump, many have lost their jobs, and other places are not hiring. So Help Wanted posters are few and far between.

Many who have been laid off and are drawing unemployment, have been given extended benefits, so they don't even want another job. They are satisfied to draw "easy money" for a while, even if a job does become available, since they can draw almost as much as they earned and never punch the clock. This has created another large, expensive program for the government, as they keep paying out these benefits. But some people will take a free ride as long as they can. So the question is, how do you help someone who does not want your help? In reality this is what God is faced with, also. How does he help people, when they do not want his help. Oh, don't misunderstand what I am saying. People want the blessings of life very much. Many are ready to accept his goodness as long as he gives it to them in the form of health and wealth, the "I deserve it" attitude. So "if" there is a God, he can send me all the blessings he wants to.

The Problem

The problem is, God does not operate like that. First of all God blesses the saved and the unsaved. He sends the rain and the sunshine on both. He feeds the saved and the unsaved. If people are starving some place in the world, it is not because God has not provided enough food, but that greedy, selfish, proud men have kept it for themselves and failed to share it as they should. God also blesses people for purposes they will never know about, or wouldn't understand if they did. The scriptures say;

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Romans 2:4

Through the many blessings he provides he wants to show everyone how good he is and how much he cares for them. For some, God sends blessing after blessing. Sadly, too many ignore where their blessings come from, not knowing that one day the blessings God gave them will be a witness against them at the judgment.

Look at the people in our country who have good jobs, reasonable health, and wonderful families, yet they have no time for the Lord, and no interest in him. Yet, they want his blessings very much. They want him to give them the things they feel they deserve because they have worked hard or gotten an expensive education. How vain their understanding is of God and his will for their lives. They are missing out on one of the most important blessings God has for them, when like Esau of long ago, seeing no value in his birthright, gave it to his brother Jacob for a bowl of pottage.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 25:34

Too many people are willing to miss heaven for just a few things of this life. Oh, they don't necessarily mean for it to be that way, but that is how it often ends up. I suppose most people plan to get saved one day, serve the Lord and go to heaven. But something happens. An accident a sudden heart attack or stroke, and they are gone! Think about the earthquake victims. They were going about their daily lives and suddenly, buildings collapsed upon them and they were dead before they even knew it. Many other similar things can happen to people, and they leave this world unprepared to meet a holy God.

No Help Please

In today's world, it seems like many people have the idea that they don't need a higher power, (God), to help them. Their actions and attitude imply that they can take care of themselves. Some, I might dare say, think God ought to bless them. Since he is their Creator, he has a moral obligation to take care of them, they think. That's how vain the thoughts of some people can be.

Because many believe they have to go to church to get God's blessings, they decide they will just do without them. They would rather stay home, or find something else to do. After all, they think they are doing just fine on their own without God. They see how others who are not in church have more "things" than they do. In fact, many unsaved people do have more "things" than those serving the Lord. This does, and always has, made people wonder why it is like this. Few understand that we are to serve God because of who he is. Not for what he may bless us with. Let me ask you, if you are serving God, why? What many do not consider is what was told the Psalmist;

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalms 37:1-5

As Christians we are not to be envious of what appears to be the prosperity of the unsaved. They may be able to shop or vacation as they wish, and most feel they are just as good as "that crowd" that goes to church every Sunday. But if the truth be known they are just as much of a sinful people, as the saved are. The only difference is the saved admit to God that they are a no good sinful people, who are in need of his mercy and grace that is offered through Jesus Christ. Saved people confess they need forgiveness. Saved people realize they need the Savior. Saved people know that all of the blessings of life come from the Lord. Saved people worship and praise the Lord and look to him for his will to be accomplished in their lives.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:22-34

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10

These are scriptures Christian people live by because they believe them, and the Lord proves them over and over in their lives.

To Obey is Better

In the days of King Saul, the Bible tells us of a time he was disobedient when he offered sacrifices to God that were not to be used as sacrifcies. So Samuel, the Prophet of God, confronted him with these words;

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

As it is with people today, King Saul's disobedience kept him from receiving the Lord's blessings. Many do not realize that if they would just be obedient to the the Lord's guidance in their lives they would not miss out on the many blessings he willingly offers his children. When people knowingly disobey the Lord, they not only cheat themselves out of his blessings, but God has no choice but to discipline them for their disobedience. Obedience takes time and growth, in the Lord. After someone is saved the scriptures are clear, unless providentialy hindered we should attend a Bible church, and support it with our time, talents, prayer and resources. Involvement in a Bible church and being surrounded by Christian fellowship can always help us to stay obedient.

Today, there are untold numbers of people who identify themselves as Christians but seldom, if ever, attend church. If they are ever asked why they don't attend, different excuses are made. Some have even convinced themselves that God feels is it is fine if they don't go. Excuses I have heard over the years are, "It's the preacher, it's the music, it's not a friendly place, it's the temperature," or something else. What is the real problem? Sin! Someone has drifted away from the Lord and rather than own up to it, they want to blame someone else for being the way they are. By the way, the Lord knows all about what the real reason is! So we have two different groups of people who miss out on the blessings of the Lord, the unsaved and the disobedient Christian. In essence, they are saying, we don't want the kind of blessings God is offering.

What Kind of Blessings Does God Offer?

A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Proverbs 28:20

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3

Spiritual blessings are greater and more important than blessings such as prosperity. The world would not think this to be true, but a study of the scriptures reveals it is. Yet, too few want spiritual blessings, and favor blessings that are material, instead. Do you, my readers, ever think about and desire spiritual blessings? What are spiritual blessings some might ask? Being a faithful witness for Christ, being a prayer warrior who gets prayers answered, being used of the Lord, having a hunger for a knowledge of the scriptures, having the ability to discern between the false teachers and the false doctrines that are prevalent on the air waves and in the pulpits. These are only a few of the Lord's many blessings, but they, and other spiritual blessings are of the greatest importance to a Christian.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

God's Promise

Now consider this promise of God to those who do not want to listen to him. To me it is frightening;

If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Malachi 2:2

Is this why the economy is so devastated in our country? Is this why so many people have lost money to the financial institutions? Or why we have no real leaders in our country? We have voted God out and we have legalized sin on every hand. The values once important to this nation are no longer recognized. God wants to help us, but as a nation and people we don't want God's help! If we have to repent of our sins and turn from our selfish, permissive way of living, people will most likely continue to be disobedient! Like Israel long ago, we have turned from the Lord and lost his favor!

In closing, may I remind everyone to "Wake up" and obey the Lord before it's too late! My friends, I send this reminder to the saved and the unsaved!

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2

Father in heaven, forgive us of our cold, indifference to you and our dislikes of your spiritual blessings. Have mercy upon us and send your Holy Spirit to convict us of our disobedience and stubborn hearts. We are a miserable people and too proud to admit it. How desperately we need you. I ask for mercy, in Jesus' name. Amen. Preacher