The Grapevine

Number 170

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth  
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15  

Always a Great Idea

By Jack Northart 

The Bible always has a way of putting things into their proper perspective. When the people in the world get bent out of shape about something, they find it odd that those who understand God’s Word and trust God do not share in their negative tirades. That’s because whether times are good or bad by the world’s standards, God and His Word are immoveable, steadfast and faithful.  

I Peter 4:4 (NIV)

They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 

Whether times are good or bad, it’s always a great idea to read, study and believe God’s Word. For us, bad times will not stay bad, and until Christ’s return good times will not always stay good. But God is faithful. God is still on the throne. God takes care of us. And the one thing that we can count on regardless of the times is God. 

Isaiah 33:6

And [God's] wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.   

The reverence, respect and awe of the LORD is our real treasure. Only God can offer true stability. God's Word is truth. We can stake our lives on it. In order to do that we must learn it, know it and live it. Why would it be important to know God before you can trust Him? Consider walking up to a complete stranger and asking that stranger to hold your wallet for an hour while you go watch a movie. Would you trust that stranger to be there when you returned? Certainly not. Why? Because you don't KNOW that person. What if it's your best friend that you hand your wallet to? You may not have a problem at all doing that because you TRUST that person. You trust them because you know them. 

Deuteronomy 7:9  
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. 

Many people in the world are constantly looking for security in life. They look for job security, financial security, emotional security, security with their relationships, spiritual security, and the list goes on. The biggest problem with this endeavor is that most look for security in the wrong places. The eternal verities of God's Word stand as a firm rock in a sea of uncertainty and speculation in our world today. For this reason, God can be relied upon for every aspect of our lives. His Word is sure, and throughout the Bible, we are reminded of how reliable God and His Word truly are. 

Philippians 4:19 (Amplified)

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

There are no qualifiers for this verse, such as: “if you are a good boy or girl, then God may buy you an ice cream cone.” He says that He will supply ALL of our need. OK then, let’s just believe it! Get your head out of the fog of negatives and put on the thoughts of what God will do for you! He will supply, not only enough to get by, but will “fill you to the full” according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus! Wow, that’s rich! 

Psalm 112:1-3

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 

God is never late. God gets a kick out of showing off how good and wonderful He is to His children. All of our 401K’s, all of our IRA’s, all of our pension funds, savings accounts and FDIC insured accounts cannot compare to God and His righteousness and His ability and willingness to take care of us. Your money, your investments, your job may all go away. It happens because there is a devil who doesn’t like us very much, and his motis operandi, his method of operation is to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) But thankfully, our God and Father knows this, and He knows how to deal with our hearts after tragedy. 

Joel 2:25a

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm… 

Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Trusting in man or trusting in yourself to come through is shear folly at the very least. Letting the information that comes through our five senses dominate our life is pointless and leads to nothing but misery and pain. Trusting in God is always a great idea.  

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.   

Through good times and bad times, trusting in the Lord is still the higher, more viable option.  Spend some time each day praying, talking to God. Read His Word. Include Him in everything you do. He wants to be involved. He wants to make great things happen in our lives.  

II Thessalonians 1:11 (NIV)

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 

Seeking stability in banks, the stock market, the government, gold, silver, platinum or anything else outside of God is going to have disappointing outcomes. Trusting and believing in God’s ability and goodness to be our stability will never disappoint us. It is always a great idea!