Seizing the Moment!

Seizing the moment!

I admit I have been naughty. I had a burden to write this article, but I argued that it is better to already have at least one Maybach (you know what I mean), before writing about the subject of finances. So, I moaned and ran like Jonah, but the burden has not lifted. Like a hurricane, it is only gaining momentum within me - so I write. 

Having been taught about how all the blessings in the heavens and on earth altogether are in Jesus' possession, given to Him by our heavenly Father; I started asking God to give me my portion of the blessing. I prayed about it following the principles of importunity. I felt my request was very emotionally intelligent - after all I was only asking for my portion, and no one else's - and not long God responded. And his words were, "doesn't your request sound familiar to you". As how? I wondered. Then I was reminded of the parable of the prodigal son - A parable is a fable meant to help convey lessons, and are not real-life experiences. Let us look at the prodigal son's request to the father.

Luk 15:11  Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. 

Luk 15:12  The younger one told his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them. 

The prodigal son's prayer was just as noble and emotionally intelligent as mine. He did not ask for his brother's portion - which would make him greedy. He asked for his own portion. Yet, despite his seemingly uprightness, we can say based on evidence that the inheritance destroyed him - even though it was his portion to have.

So I asked God why? Why did his own substance destroy him? And the response I got was this: The son was already enjoying a portion of his inheritance - but that portion was what he had the capacity to receive and manage properly. He was well robed, ate good food and had adequate shelter - a prince in his own rights. He was already enjoying the portion of his inheritance that his father knew he had the capacity to receive. I know what you're thinking, why then did the father - who represents God - give the son what he had not capacity to receive and manage? Because this is a parable, and so it is meant to teach us. In reality, the request of the prodigal son would have been null before God, because God only gives without an addition of sorrow. Also,

Jas 4:3  You ask for something but do not get it because you ask for it for the wrong reason—for your own pleasure.

I am reminded of the parable of the rich man that went down because He used his blessing for his pleasure and not for the fulfilment of God's will on earth.

Luk 12:13  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 

Luk 12:14  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 

Luk 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

Luk 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 

Luk 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 

Luk 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 

Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 

Luk 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 

Luk 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 

Here the lesson is not focused on the capacity to create or multiply wealth, it is about devotion to God even in the use of the resources we are given. The prayer here is that Lord help me to manage all that you have given me to the glory of your name.

God in reality now, does not give us anything we do not have the capacity to receive and manage. As a sharp guy, I changed my prayer point to - Lord Increase my capacity. Remembering the prophetic utterances of Isaiah and the melodious tune of Israel Houghton. Since it is a capacity issue. The size of a cup determines the portion of the wine that can be received. 

Isa 54:2  Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes...; 

When I read the verse again, I realized yet again that my prayer point was wrong. It is not God that will wave His miraculous hand and increase your capacity - Not that He cannot do it - but He would rather let us grow our capacity and be involved in the process. So the right prayer is Lord God, help me, assist me as I begin the journey to increase my capacity to receive and manage all that is in your heart to give me on this earth through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Teachers of the word of God have taught about how to increase capacity - of special note is through learning of needed skills required for trade. Let's see how having skill distinguished Daniel and his Jewish brothers when they were in the land of captivity.

Dan 1:3  And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 

Dan 1:4  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 

Dan 1:6  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 

Daniel 1:4 showed the abilities the King was looking for then. All these requirements are still very relevant in today's world of commerce. So it is good to meditate on the verse and compare your abilities with those listed.

Of particular note to me in the story of Daniel is his ability to seize the moment. Although, the bible mentions what we can call Daniel's 'Selling Point' to be the interpretation of dreams, I feel he earned that gift after he was able to seize an opportunity for the glory of God. The first time this occurred was when all the other boys from Judah were eating the King's dainties, Daniel determined not to do so, along with his 3 brothers from Judah. And God rewarded that loyalty by increasing their capacity, distinguishing them amongst there pairs:

Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 

Another opportunity Daniel was able to seize occurred when the King had a dream, he called all his socerers and magicians and the likes and demanded something impossible. He demanded not only for the interpretation of his dream, but also the dream itself. His argument, which feels logical to me, is that if a sorcerer can tell the dream, then there is a higher likelihood that the sorcerer's interpretation would be accurate. But none of the sorcerers and chaldeans could tell the king his dream. In the King's anger, he commanded all the sorcerers, wise men etc. in the land to be annihilated. This new policy included Daniel and his brothers. 

Now, here is the part that inspires me, when Daniel heard about it, his response was not to go into prayer and fasting requesting God to wave his miraculous hand and that the king should change his mind and forgive all the wise men. Instead, he asked for time to get the details of the King's dream and interpret said dream. Meaning, he chose to be a solution provider to the King's problem, which was more dangerous, considering that all the lives of the wise men were now dependent on him getting that dream accurately. And to make matters tougher, Dan 1: 17 showed that the skill Daniel had was understanding visions and dreams, and not the skill to extract dreams from the mind of men. 

Daniel knew only His God could give him the information about the King's dream. It became yet another opportunity for God's name to be glorified. And God did not disappoint. Daniel's capacity was increased to be able to deliver. And he received rewards and awards from the king for his effort:

Dan 2:46  Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 

Dan 2:47  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 

Dan 2:48  Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 

Dan 2:49  Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. 

We see the same pattern when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were requested to bow down and worship the King's statue along with other top officials (Daniel's elevation exempted him from this frivolous activity - another reward of being a solution provider I guess). The three Jews saw this as an opportunity for God to be glorified and seized the moment. They refused to bow down and worship, and God showed up for them in a big way:

Dan 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 

Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 

Dan 3:27  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 

Dan 3:28  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 

Dan 3:29  Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 

Dan 3:30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. 

We see that the end result of seizing the moment to glorify God seems to always end up in promotion. The suffering exists no doubt, but it is nothing compared to the weight of glory (including finances evidently) that follows suit.

Finally, Daniel again during the days of King Darius was set up. Some evil men knowing Daniel's devotion to God decided to trick the King to create a policy that would stop him from openly worshipping God, let's read the entire Story:

Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 

Dan 6:2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 

Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 

Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 

Dan 6:5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 

Dan 6:6  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 

Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 

Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 

Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 

So, the set up was complete. Victory for the treacherous, or so it seemed. It was either he sinned against God or sinned against the King's law. They must not have known Daniel's past walk with God. And he saw an opportunity for God's name to be glorified - seizing the moment. 

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 

Dan 6:11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 

It must have shocked them. Daniel chose to go to the Lion's den. He even prayed three times a day. probably increased it.. ha ha ha...

Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 

Dan 6:13  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 

Dan 6:14  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 

Dan 6:15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 

Dan 6:16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 

Dan 6:17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 

Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 

Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 

Dan 6:20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 

Dan 6:21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 

Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 

Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 

Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 

Sidebar 1: Now, Jesus' teaching is that even these men must receive Daniel's forgiveness and He ought to even bless them. 

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

Mat 5:46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 

Mat 5:47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 

Mat 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

This is a really hard request I can't even lie. Yet, I find that when we ask for God's help to fulfill it, he releases grace unto us.

Still, the government of the day as a right to fulfil the justice of the law of the land on the offenders, forgiven by the offended or not - "The State versus ... "

So, we must all be careful and pray for God's help to treat everybody lawfully right.

Dan 6:25  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 

Dan 6:26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 

Dan 6:27  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 

Dan 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

We end with one hymn that beautifully expresses the desire to glorify God: "Take My Life and Let It Be" by Frances Ridley Havergal.