Normally these posts are about what I'm learning from the Bible. Today it comes from another source. There are times when I'm visiting with someone, giving them advice and then come to the conclusion that I'm learning more than they. Like God arranged the event more for my benefit, to hear my own advice. Have you ever felt that way?
I am reading Walking With God by John Eldredge. He mentions counseling a woman about life. He says 'Even though I was playing the role of counselor in that moment. I was feeling that God had arranged the whole encounter for me.'
He goes on to say that God wants us to be happy but we cannot truly be happy until we are completely His and until He is our all. The weaning process is hard. The sorrows of our lives are in great part his weaning process. We give our hearts over to so many things other than God. We look to so many other things for life. Especially the very gifts that He himself gives to us - they become more important to us than he is.
Unfortunately I can relate to this. Sometimes wanting to teach is more important to me than anything else. As much as I love God and want to hang out with Him, sometimes I seem more interested in the gifts He's given me, than the giver.
Luke 16:19-31 Jesus is telling a story of the rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, eating the finest foods, wearing the finest clothes. At his gate was a poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus was sick and he just wanted to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table.
Both of these guys died. The rich man went to hell and was tormented constantly. The poor man went to heaven and Abraham pulled him in to his side. The poor man was comforted. The rich man looked up from hell and saw Lazarus at Abraham's side. He asked if Lazarus could bring him some water as he was in anguish by the flame.
Abrahams' response was that the rich man's luxury came on earth and that a great chasm was between them. Neither could cross. The rich man asked if Lazarus could go back and warn his family so that they would not end up where he was.
Abrahams' response was that they have Moses and the Prophets to learn from. If they do not learn from Moses and the Prophets they will not listen to one who rises from the dead.