What A Privilege

I am honored to be part of a great group of people.

Today, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, I am reminded all over again how blessed and privileged I am. On one hand, I’m where God placed me. On the other hand, I am surrounded by some beautiful people with great perspectives.

The one thing I never want to do is to take this sacred honor and abuse or misuse.

Does this mean that everything goes perfect? Or according to some magical plan? No. There are up and down times. Sadness and disappointments abound at times. At times it requires hard work, but not because any person, but more because I’m indebted to those who surround my life and I feel the obligation of responsibility.

This morning, at the opening of service, we were reminded of the Privilege we have to live in this country, and this is a privilege not afforded everyone around the world. Leaders and countries will fail, even as we elevate them. Men and women will let us down, even as we promote them. Governments will come and go, just like they have come and gone for centuries.  When we think we have arrived… Plop. Down comes the thrones. Wars. Escalation. Armies. Battles. Until such time that a final apocalypse will come… But there is a God who is over and above all of this.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.  (Revelation 17:14 KJV)

Those that are serving Him will be the “called, and chosen, and faithful…” That’s my side. That’s where my allegiance lies.

Even the Psalmist understood this back in a historical frame. He wrote and spoke of this in many ways, but these are the words I suggest to you today.

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  (Psalms 118:8-9 KJV)

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (Psalms 20:7 KJV)

Through the morning worship, and as we were ushered into the presence of God with song and prayer, a simple song is led:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There’s just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus. Like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away. But there’s something about that name.

Again, we note how privileged we are as a group of people to stand and worship together. And as I struggle to deliver my heart in a message from the Word of God, I come to a final resting place of peace and comfort. I am privileged to have such good people to worship and live around. I am privileged to live in a great country that I pray for often. I am privileged to follow a King of my life that guides my footsteps day by day.

I am privileged!

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
(Psalms 139:1-18 ESV)

 

The Confidence Factor

Who have you put your confidence in?

Similar in meaning, but different words (trust, faith, reliance, etc.) give foundation to a concept that we depend upon every single day. Our self-esteem or self-confidence may be out of whack, or we simply need an influencer in our life, so we look to someone else, or something, to give us what we are missing. In other words, there are things we depend on other than ourselves.

What is Confidence? Of the variety of descriptions used in the dictionary, the one that speaks to me the loudest?

Confidence: the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something

Rely? In other words, it’s someone I can put MY TRUST in, and maybe even trust for my particular SITUATION.  Dig a little deeper for application – It’s who I trust with my finances, family, kids, mechanic for my car, a friend that is closer than a brother…. It’s who I trust for my spiritual condition.

For the past several weeks we have been studying about “influence” and documenting those things, and people, that have been an influence in our lives. Some of these influences lead us properly in life, but there are also bad influences! It’s necessary to learn to recognize those that are good influences, and those that are not so good – and choose appropriately!

This gives me my Confidence Factor. Part of what I do is to put parameters upon people and things and determine if I can place my confidence in them. Are they dependable? Reliable? Consistent? Show up when necessary, or needed? Do they follow through when required? Are they there when needed, and even when not needed?

In other words, can I place my confidence in them? Or it? Many times I do not even trust my own parameters, and end up trusting someone that should not be depended upon.

I awoke this morning thinking about confidence. Immediately, I thought about a favorite song of the 70’s by Andrae Crouch. It was a favorite choir song, and I know I wore out an album listening to Andrae sing this and other songs.

When trouble is in my way, I can’t tell my night from day
When I’m tossed from side to side, Like a ship on a raging tide
I don’t worry I don’t fret, My God has never failed me yet
Troubles come from time to time, But that’s all right,
I’m not the worrying kind because

Chorus:
I’ve got confidence, God is gonna see me through
No matter what the case may be,  I know He’s gonna fix it for me
Job was sick so long, Till the flesh fell from his bones
His wife, cattle and children, Everything that he had was gone
But Job in his despair, I said He knew that God still cared

Sleepless days and sleepless nights, But Job said that’s all right because
Some folks wonder how I smile, Even when I’m goin’ through trials
They say Andrae` how can you have song, When everything is goin’ wrong
But I don’t worry I don’t fret, My God has never failed me yet
Trouble’s coming from time to time, But that’s all right,
I’m not the worrying kind because

[Words & music by Andrea Crouch]

Along the way, we choose to put our confidence in people or things. Perhaps there is a time when the trust is justifiable, but we should constantly weigh out whether this confidence is necessary for the long run. You see, when we trust continually one way and leave God out of the equation, then we will struggle with our Confidence Factor.

Of old, we knew that Egypt was a mighty nation. When Israel left slavery and returned to their promised land, the Pharaoh had a change of heart and sent his mighty army of soldiers and chariots after them. Fear swept Israel. They understood what this army could do, but they had so quickly forgotten their new found confidence in the releasing power of God! They had just come through all the plagues, and now they were free! Except for the chariots…

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! (Isaiah 31:1 ESV)

You see, if God can handle an entire nation on their home turf, then the same God can handle their armies as they leave their cities! Israel may have had their Confidence Factor shaken, but Moses shows them to trust God even again.

Later, King David wrote a psalms that brags on Israel and God!

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalms 20:7 ESV)

Watch those you put your confidence in, because they, or it, can fail you. This applies to all facets of your life… Even your financial position. Stock markets, gold, silver, 401k’s, property – they all are volatile and will lead you on a roller coaster. You may trust in what you have, and what you hope to gain, but with one swift day and it can all crumple around your ears… Just look at Job! So, one more scriptural thought about the Confidence Factor from a man who lost just about everything he had, including his family.

“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.” (Job 31:24-28 ESV)

See? If you had been faithful to all that you have acquired, and trusted in what you have been able to make and do, and been false to God… Then you have your Confidence Factor out of whack!