Embarrassed by blessings?

Embarrassed by blessings

James 4:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Several years ago there was a country song with the line “don’t get above your raising”. Our son was a preschooler at the time. He would sing at the top of his lungs “Don’t eat a fuzzy raisin!” So as a family, when we think of people who have been raised poor or middle class, do better than their parents financially then get stuck up and proud about it, we say “They are eating fuzzy raisins.”

I know a couple who God has blessed tremendously. They are not “eating fuzzy raisins.” Their hearts are humble before God, and they give Him the glory for the blessings He has given. Their desire is to use those blessings to minister to others. But they have a spiritual conundrum. In opening their home as a place of gathering and ministry, they face the vulnerability that others will think they are bragging or proud. We were helping them move yesterday, and my son whispered to me “This is a VERY nice house!” like it was a secret. (For those of you who know my sons well, this is funny: Then he asked a question reminiscent of what his older brother would ask. Not telling you what it is. If you know them, you will know.) I think that in the back of his mind, he understood that he would embarrass them by stating the obvious where they could hear him.

This made me start thinking. Why are we embarrassed by the situation in which God has placed us? A few years ago, God used a series of events to change our lifestyle and our situation. The end result is wonderful. I look out my back window every morning and evening with thanksgiving for what God has done. But I also struggle with what others think about the place that I live. It is so different than where we have lived for the last several years.  I’m not complaining. The blessings far outweigh that one little detail. Yet, the devil tries to confuse me.

This is the reality of our culture, both within the church and in society. So much emphasis is put on things: cars, houses, clothes, recreational vehicles, vacation spots, jewelry. But, what does God say about this?

James 1: 9 The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation, 10 but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

It is true that many scriptures state that God blessed men with earthly possessions because of their faithfulness. But this is not a promise for all believers. Some of the most faithful believers live in absolute poverty. True followers of Jesus are all promised spiritual blessings on earth and an indescribable heavenly home. But we are also warned of persecutions and trials. Neither wealth nor poverty, sickness nor health, trials nor ease are a reflection of anyone’s spiritual condition.

Deuteronomy 28 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Blessings for Obedience
28 “Now if you faithfully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all His commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the Lord your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city
and blessed in the country.
4 Your descendants will be blessed,
and your land’s produce,
and the offspring of your livestock,
including the young of your herds
and the newborn of your flocks.
5 Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in
and blessed when you go out.

Leviticus 19:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

15 “You must not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.

John 16:32-33 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

32 Look: An hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

James 1:2-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

When we look at scripture, we understand that God sees the heart. He knows our inmost thoughts. In His great wisdom, He sends blessings, trials, persecutions, poverty, riches, sickness, health-all at the exact time that works in our lives for our individual good and the furtherance of His kingdom.

As Christians in a materialistic society, we need to look past what the secular world sees and how unbelievers judge others. We need to see as God sees. We must not value others by what we see with our eyes. We can not judge a brother or sister in Christ by what one has or does not have. That is beyond our control. God gives as He sees fit.  We can not be ashamed (embarrassed) or prideful based on our possessions, because all we have or lack is based on God’s wisdom. And, just as importantly, we must not fear the judgment based on earthly values. If God blesses us with earthly possessions, we are be totally committed to Him and trust Him to use those blessings for His glory. If he places us in humble circumstances, we are to continue to serve and minister with a total commitment of our all to Him.

Philippians 4:11-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.