The one who faithfully manages the little he has been given will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities. But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more. If you have not handled the riches of this world with integrity, why should you be trusted with the eternal treasures of the spiritual world? And if you’ve not proven yourself faithful with what belongs to another, why should you be given wealth of your own?
Luke 16:10-12 (TPT)
I can still remember that day when my dad helped me to ride a bike without the extra two wheels at the back for support. I wanted to ride with only two wheels the first time that I got a bike, but my dad knew something that I didn't know at that stage. He knew that if I would climb onto a bike without support that it would only end up with a plaster on my knee and elbow. Not that he didn't trust me, but he knew that I lacked experience.
After a few years, I decided to join my dad on the open road. On our first ride together I didn't have an elite bike or equipment, but only what was necessary. My dad didn't buy me new equipment and clothing on day one, not because he didn't love me, but because he wanted to see if I am serious about cycling before investing in something that will only last a month.
Friends, some of us have been asking God for an increase, but we cannot expect Him to give us something new if we cannot even manage what we already have in our hands.
This can be compared to so many aspects of our lives. We are trusting and asking God to give us an increase financially, but we don't even know how to manage our monthly income. Saving and tithing are terms that we don't want to have in our vocabulary. We are making ourselves blind to the truth. Giving you an increase now might be anything apart from a blessing.
We pray that God will use us to speak in front of thousands of people, but we don't even know how to reach out to the one lost soul next to us.
We trust God for new relationships, but we lack showing love and forgiveness to the people that are currently in our lives.
How could I have asked my dad for new cycling equipment, if I haven't even once been on the open road with him? If he had given me all that equipment from day one, I sure would've come back with a few scars, because at that stage I didn't even know how the gears worked.
Does this make sense? Do you understand that God is a loving father? He knows what is best for you, and at what time.
God is not withholding the blessing that you are asking Him for, He is protecting you from getting hurt by something that you are still inexperienced about.
Life is a process, some things take time, learning and building relationships take time. This doesn't mean that we should stop asking God for things, it just means that we should trust His process and timing and know without a shadow of a doubt that He is still in control. So we can step down from that position of wanting to be on the throne of our lives and give Him the place that He deserves.
I don't think God wants us to go through life unequipped and unprepared. He has given people wisdom on how to manage earthly things for His glory. Ask God to show you mentors that you can learn from.
We aren't called to be inexperienced cyclists in this world. It is time to swallow our pride and learn how the gears of life work and how to replace a flat tire.
People lose their way without wise leadership, but a nation succeeds and stands in victory when it has many good counselors to guide it.
Proverbs 11:14 (TPT)
Shane & Shane - Psalm 46 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ps6qZOQBYo)
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