Sparrows

This week was a rough week for many reasons though I will not get into all of them I am going to use one situation as the context of this post.  We went out of town this week and were about 5 hours from home when our car would not shift into any gear.  We had it towed to a shop to find out that we needed a new transmission.  Thankfully we were there to visit family so we did have some help in trying to get it all straightened out and we had a place to stay.  My husband and I were very distraught over the situation.  First because we already had put $1000 into it two weeks prior on 3 seperate occasions (1000 total).  Then to find out at the minimum it would cost $2000 to fix.  Not to mention the fact that we needed to get home the next day which was Saturday and our car wouldn't even be looked at until Monday.  It was just a tough situation.  We were trying to work through the best way we could.  Something was said to us that kind of just added salt to the wound.  The statement was made by a loved one "I know a story of a good christian family that needed $10,000 and met a man on the street that handed them a check for that amount".  I replied "yes those stories are great but God usually has us work through our problems and not just make it all go away".  Her response was "I guess if He needs to teach you a lesson".  Ouch, I don't know what that is supposed to mean but it just rubbed me the wrong way.  A simple I am sorry you are going through this would have been sufficient.  Or a "I will pray for you".  Proverbs 25:11  Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold and pictures of silver.  Meaning they are beautiful things.  The opposite is well kind of like rubbing salt in and open wound.
I am not arguing the fact that God uses EVERY situation in my life for a reason.  I know this is true.  I am arguing the idea that you can be "good" enough for God to bless you and make all your problems go away.  I will use the verses from Luke 12:22-28

22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?


Is it not very clear that God does not rely on our goodness in order to provide us our needs????  Does he require of the birds to do anything but be a bird in order for them to be fed?  NO!  What does he expect from the birds?  Just to be exactly what God designed them to be, a bird.  To eat and fly and poop and sleep.  That is what He made them to do.  Now He made all things on earth for the ultimate purpose of bringing Glory to himself.  So tell me what is it that a bird can do to make him more glorifying to God?  Nothing, God just wants the bird to do exactly what He designed it to do and that alone is glorifying in and of itself.  Ok how about the lilies do they do anything special to have color?  No, of course they don't.  Do they bring glory to God?  Yes!  Why?  Because God designed them and just growing and serving their purpose brings glory to God.  How about the grass?  I mean really must I go through it again.  He pretty much says that grass has absolutely no value yet it grows just the way it is supposed to and does exactly what He designed it to do.
Now  I Jesus simply giving a lesson in earth science here?  No He is making a parable.  Are not you more valuable to me than these things???  Then what is your freaking problem?  Why do you think you can do, have or be enough and then I will take care of you?  Why do you work, toil, worry, stress and try your hardest to be better than everyone else around you?  It is not for God's sake.  Why?  Because He does not require that in order to take care of you.  All He wants from us is to serve the purpose He designed us for.  So next time before someone gets up on their high horse and tells you or someone else that if they were good enough then God would provide their needs.  I think I may just say that I think you might be confused about the Bible and you may want to check that information before you spew it out next time.

So to answer our loved one that made such a hurtful comment in our time of need my response to you saying "I guess if He needs to teach you a lesson" is yes I am sure God needs to teach me many lessons.  Hopefully someday He teaches you to hold your tounge.