Is it wrong to ask God to be generous to us? I used to feel guilty asking God for even little things for myself. Who am I to request even the crumbs from his table? And yet… Jesus praises those who ask for crumbs.
With both joy and trepidation, lately I’ve been experimenting with boldness. I’ve been trying to petition God with the persistence of a nagging kid. I must confess that this trial tests my faith. To be so demanding and yet so vulnerable before such a great God has me shaking in my shoes sometimes. When that happens, I try to take my shoes off and stand on his holy ground… knees knocking and tongue sputtering. After all, I’ve become convinced that I can’t grow to love God more… or to know his love more… if I don’t trust him enough to ask. I know he loves me… and therefore I must ask.
And I have this smiling reassurance speaking into my soul: It’s hard to imagine God being stingy. At his fingertips is the abundance of creation… and even more.
With this confident conviction we read these loving and bold words in the third section of Psalm 119:
Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I’m a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!- insatiable for your nourishing commands. And those who think they know so much, ignoring everything you tell them- let them have it! Don’t let them mock and humiliate me. I’ve been careful to do just what you said. While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I’m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight; I listen to them as to good neighbors! (119:17-24 Message)
Those chapters in Job are fantastic. The story of Job often stretches me deeply. It’s hard to understand why God would allow such calamity to slam into Job’s family… and it hurts to see Job struggle in the midst of it all to gain a perspective that rises above his situation. And yet he does well. Job is honest with his friends and with God. And finally, when he cries out to God, God is able to give Job the perspective of heaven.
Ken,
Read Job 23-24 and then Job 38 in the New Living translation.
Here is a man who was not afraid to bare his sole before his “friends” and the Almighty.
..James