JEHOVAH JIREH

Jehovah Jireh literally means, “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14).
The expression of God being our provider is also mentioned in the New Testament, “And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Here are questions for myself:
“If I believe God will provide for me, why I am worried?”
Also, “Why I am not more grateful?” 
Lastly, “Am I a spoiled American Christian?”

Unfortunately, I go through much of life worried, ungrateful, and live a life as a spoiled American Christian. God, help me to repent…beginning this moment! God did not say these things flippantly! He meant them. Let me do further self-introspection. Why am I a spoiled American Christian? And the reason it is such a concern is the fact it is a great material-barrier to having the right relationship with God. I am not as close to him as I could be. Also, God can’t use me to help others if I am “depending” on myself.

I think many of us have an illusion that we are in control. I believe this goes back to our blessings in this country, and for lack of gratefulness on some of our parts. As a social studies teacher, I started believing my students would not remember ANYTHING I taught them. So, I asked them to remember this one fact: IRRIGATION IS THE KEY TO THE GROWTH OF CIVILIZATION. Fortunately, many of my former students actually remembered this one thing. They have made me proud by coming up to me and quoting some facsimile of this statement. Let’s dig deeper in to the importance of this truism. Without proper irrigation and an ability for farmers to grow an excess amount of crops, we would all be farmers, hunters, or gatherers. After all, I just came home from the grocery store and purchased several items that someone else grew. Praise God for the apples, grapes, and coffee creamer! To continue, if there is enough excess crops grown in a region or country, then people are allowed to specialize in specific jobs, other than agricultural or hunting positions. Now, I can be a teacher, sanitation engineer, aqua-marine biologist, soldier, professional golfer, and so on and so on. This certainly allows for a structured society as well. Two percent of the American population produces food for the rest of the country. You may be thinking, I learned this in sixth grade, but…did you get up this morning thanking God for it? If you did, I applaud you. I confess, I am spoiled American Christian. I get impatient if the line is long in the grocery store!  COME ON, SELF!!

Now let’s think about the rest of the world. There are 570 million farms in the world. More than 90% of farms are run by an individual or family. These farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves and their families. They typically build their own houses and grow the food they eat. Some may grow enough extra that they can buy a small amount of items during the year.  They are NOT spoiled!! There are reports of revival breaking out in many poor regions of the world when the gospel is preached. I am concluding that one big reason is lack of material-barriers to stop the spiritual revival. I am not God! There may certainly be other reasons.

I think we can learn the following:
1. It is good to be blessed. We can bless others! But, we must give God His due, if we want to be in right standing with Him. (Also, there is nothing preventing God from putting America in a state of third world-ness.) Therefore, if we don’t want to be spoiled Americans, then we must be grateful and help others!
2. Realize God has blessed us for a reason. Let us seek Him, first! Then, let us seek His plan to use us to help others.
3. There are many poor people in this country. Whether it’s their fault or not, they are on our watch of this Christian Generation.
4. We must not be under the illusion that we are in control. One disaster can change that mind-set in a hurry. We have never made it rain, however—if we need rain—we can ask God for it. Our houses (and their furnishings), schools, clothes, food, and family are blessings from God!
5. In this Holy Week, let’s recognize God’s ultimate gift of Salvation! Jesus came to save us through the Cross and Resurrection (and there is so much more to the layers of God). Let us seek to know Jesus and make Him known.
CONCLUSION: I have been a spoiled American Christian for a looooong time. I know this can't change over night, but the first step to change is recognizing the problem. I confess that I really need to change! God, help me!