SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles
16:9 (TM)
God is always on
the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to
him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help.
Now you're in trouble - one round of war after another.
STORY:
When Jan Paderewski was to leave his native Poland to play
his first recital in London, he asked an influential compatriot to give him a
letter of introduction to a leading figure in Britain's musical world, who
might be of assistance should anything go amiss. The letter was handed to him
in a sealed envelope. He hoped that everything would proceed smoothly and he
would not have to use it.
He did not; his debut was a success and no snags developed.
Some years later, while going through his papers, he came upon the letter and
opened it. It read:
"This will introduce Jan Paderewski, who plays the
piano, for which he demonstrates no conspicuous talent."
OBSERVATION:
How often have we relied on the help from others only to
experience their failure to be of any real assistance? Can I say, TOO MANY
TIMES! In short, based on personal experience, their “help” only made things
worse. The hole got deeper, the wall grew in stature, and the gap in a
relationship only widened.
Real help … lasting help … healing help … consistently
strengthening help comes from only one source – God and God alone.
And yet, we continue to turn to our “friends” for help and
we continue to realize the same results. When will we learn?!? It is right
there in the pages and books of the Bible. Namely, that reliance on human help
is foolishness. Why, because everyone has their own set of issues that they
bring into any particular situation. Those issues flavor and taint the help
they offer. Their issues too often simply makes our situation more complicated.
Oh, we shouldn’t get discouraged with our fellow human
beings on the journey through life. I remain an eternal optimist and always
believe that the next time those other people will behave differently. Trust is
still given … hoping against hope … that this next time things will be
different. They never are, but hey, we never know do we.
And so, never losing hope in the possibility of something
good can come out of our fellow journeyers the circle is drawn big enough to
include them in the process of problem solving … BUT the real help is going to
come from God and God alone. That we can “take to the bank” as they say.
PRAYER:
Help us not lose faith in our fellow human beings, but help
us to keep our faith in You. Help us to look to you as the author and finisher
of our faith as well as the one who will consistently be there in times of need
offering real help!
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