Jeremiah 10:2
and 23 - This is
what the LORD says: "Do not act like other nations who try to read their
future in the stars. Do not be afraid of their predictions, even though other
nations are terrified by them.
I know, LORD, that a
person's life is not his own. No one is able to plan his own course.
Jeremiah warns us in
this chapter of leaning on other sources…even our own resources….to plan our future.
He knew that God was the one in charge of our lives…not one minute can be planned
on our own. The stars do not hold the secrets of our future….only a history of
the past.
We are a people who likes
to know what is going to happen and when it will be so. We carefully plan out retirement accounts … plan
college funds for our children…and keep wills in order so that family will know
our wishes when we pass. We want to have a nice emergency fund in the bank…just
in case. Don’t misunderstand here…I am not saying that these things in themselves
are bad. But many times…we complete
these tasks thinking that we have some power over life because we were smart
enough to plan ahead.
Jeremiah was
reminding us that God is in control of all that we have and do. That well
planned retirement account can be drained in a week with an illness we did not
expect. That college fund is useless if the child we planned it for suddenly is
removed from our lives. That will only says who we feel should have our assets….not
what they will use it for after we pass.
That emergency fund can be gone in a flash….if a natural disaster comes
our way and destroys our belongings. God will allow things in our life to get
us back on his path if we stray too far from his plan.
Sure…I need to keep
making wise decisions with the resources God gave me. Sure…with prayer and Bible study I can make
wise decisions with the resources he blesses me with. I will continue to pay
into a retirement account…and keep a small amount in the bank for emergencies. I
thank God every day that I am able to help my last son finish college…even
though my contribution is small. I still need to sit down and do a will…just so
I have peace of mind that my children will be able to use what God has so
richly blessed me with in some way. God
willing…he may grant me a thousand more years on this earth…but I have no guarantee.
All I know is the promise he made me in Jeremiah 29:11….that HE has great plans
for my future…and they will be good…they will be just what he wanted for me.
Father…thank you for
the reminder that my life…my future is totally in your control. Forgive me for
the times that I try to manipulate it into something you did not have planned
for me….and I made another mess for you to clean up. Help me to use the resources you gave me
wisely…and invest them the way you tell me to through prayer and Bible study.
Give me wisdom to use all of what you gave me…time…money….talent….to glorify
and help those you send me to help. Help me live more in today…and stop
worrying so much about the future. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment