We’re Destroying Ourselves

8 Jul

Thus says the Lord:
They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;
they established princes, but without my approval.
With their silver and gold they made
idols for themselves, to their own destruction.  (Hos 8:4)

One of the traits of our frail human nature?  When we get tired or impatient of waiting for something, we try to do it ourselves.

This can, as you can well imagine, lead to ruin.

If a computer needs to be fixed and the technician is not at hand to get the job done, how many employees won’t give it a go on their own?  Then, when they make a worse mess of the situation, they will simply tell the technician that the problem was that big to begin with!

We have done the same kind of thing in our faith journey.

A people, long ago, got tired of waiting for their God and King.  So, instead of waiting patiently, fortifying themselves along the way, they gave in to their needs and desires for a ruler and they created their own.

Their own rulers led to idols, creating their own gods.

How far we can take ourselves from the Lord!

In our own lives we often do that.

We ask God for help and when we think that He is not around, that He does not have enough time for us, we take matters into our own hands and truly foul things up.

Gone are the days of patient endurance.  Gone are the days of patiently longing.  Everything nowadays appears to be immediate gratification.  If we want it now, we get it now.  If God won’t supply it right away, we will turn to whomever will.

There is one who is more than willing to give us whatever we want whenever we need it.  However, he is definitely not our friend.

Wait for the Lord with courage.  Be stouthearted and wait for the Lord!

FAITH ACTION:  When you pray today, try not to demand.  And when you make a request, ask God to give you patience to wait.