A sister in the faith shared the following experience.
She had gone to the bank and went up to the bank teller to ask him how much money she had in her account. The teller politely replied that she had 41 dollars. “41 Dollars??!!!” she asked with alarm. The sister was quite incredulous and clearly not happy that she was told there was only 41 dollars. This would not seem to be very helpful in having to pay her bills and buy food for her children. The bank teller kindly looked at her furrowed brow and listened to her words of disdain. “You are very lucky,” he replied. “Lucky? How could I be lucky with only 41 dollars?” she countered. The bank teller repeated again, ever so kindly, “You are very lucky.” “How could you call me lucky with only 41 dollars in my account?” she queried. “Well,” continued the bank teller, “if you only knew how many people come up to my window, wanting to withdraw money but they have nothing in their account. Zero!! Or their account is overdrawn. You are lucky you have 41 dollars.”
The sister took these words to heart. Yes, we need to count our blessings. Yes, she had 41 dollars while there are others out there with nothing. God has promised to take care of our daily needs if we are faithful, no matter how much money is in our bank account.
We are promised provisions for the day—today. Let the Lord worry about tomorrow. “’Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.’ It is a misfortune to borrow the trouble of next week to embitter the present week. When real trouble comes, God will fit every meek and lowly one to bear it. When His providence permits it to come, He will provide help to endure it. Fretting and murmuring cloud and stain the soul, and shut out the bright sunlight from the pathway of others.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 641
We will now compare this sister’s experience to our spiritual lives. There are some Christians whose religion always has a negative focus.
WHAT YOU CANNOT DO
The tendency for some Christians is to focus on what they cannot do. They focus on the “Taboos” – things to be avoided in order to gain entrance into the Kingdom of God. They are good at compiling long lists of things to avoid. Wrong kinds of TV shows and entertainments; wrong types of books and magazines to read; wrong kinds of dress to wear, etc. And the list gets especially long when they mention foods that should be avoided.
You share your faith with your friends, associates, co-workers, employers, teachers, and they seem to grasp on “what you cannot do, what you cannot eat, where you cannot go, and the fact that you cannot work on Sabbath.” These are things that they feel they can do, but due to your religion, you cannot. They make it sound like cult worship as they are only focusing on the negative.
We want to turn the people’s minds into a positive focus. When people ask me about vegetarianism by saying, “are you a vegetarian because your religion says you must be?” I tell them no, that is not the reason I am vegetarian. I believe it is a much healthier way to eat and I want to live a happy healthy life and I am glad I found a church that supports me in this belief and promotes healthy living.
When asked about the fact that you cannot work, go shopping or engage in worldly entertainments, on Sabbath they feel it is your religion that prohibits you. They believe they can do these things without guilt as they belong to a different religion that permits these activities. The simple answer is that I did not make the commandments, the Lord did, and I am choosing to want to obey Him. It is not my religion that makes the rules. It is God, and I am thankful I found a church willing to uphold all the laws of God.
None of the prohibitions on the part of the Lord are negative, with the intention of His children living a sad and miserable life, missing out on the joys and pleasures of the world. Quite the contrary, the prohibitions are quite positive. They are meant to promote a happy healthy lifestyle. More than anything the Lord wants His children to be happy. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8
In reality, as Christians we should be asking, “What must I do to be saved.” Not, “what must I not do to be saved.” The Rich young ruler asked Jesus, What must I do to be saved. (Matthew 16:16) The Philippian Jailer asked the same question of the Apostle Paul. (Acts 16:28-33). That should be our question also. A positive focus.
THOU SHALT NOT COVET
The 10th Commandment reads, “Thou Shalt Not Covet.” This commandment does not deal with actions, but with motives and thoughts—negative thoughts and desires. Coveting is focusing on what you do not have. You want what you see others have but you do not have, and so you are extremely unhappy unless you have what you strongly desire. Many people, including Christians, live unsatisfied lives, always wanting more of something.
There is a very great danger that those who have less of the world’s material wealth, will covet the possessions of those that have more. Even those who are economically stable, may covet those who are extremely wealthy. The wealthy may have unhappy relationships and may covet the poor man’s happy wife. The focus is on, what I do not have but want.
Ellen G White wrote a long testimony to a sister in the faith who was struggling with poverty and illness. She was very faithful, however, she was a little covetous, when she said, “O, if I only had the means handled by those who are unfaithful in their stewardship, I would feel it one of the greatest privileges to help the need and to aid in the advancement of the cause of God!” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 276
Further on in the testimony, Sister White was told, “The Lord said to His angel who had hitherto ministered unto you: ‘I have proved her in poverty and affliction, and she has not separated herself from Me, nor rebelled against Me. I will now prove her with prosperity. I will reveal to her a page of the human heart with which she is unacquainted. I will show her that money is the most dangerous foe she has ever met. I will reveal to her the deceitfulness of riches; that they are a snare, even to those who feel that they are secure from selfishness, and proof against exaltation, extravagance, pride, and love of the praise of men.’” Ibid, p. 278. Sadly, this woman proved unfaithful with her wealth.
This does not mean that if you have little, you must remain in that condition. The Lord gives wisdom and talents that we can use to improve our situation in life. It is not sin to improve our situation as long we are not covetously driven by materialism, so that we forget the Lord. We may not be billionaires but we have food to eat and a place to live and billions in heaven.
The Lord does not want us to be negatively coveting what we do not have as it is not conducive to happiness. We are encouraged to rather count our blessings and appreciate what we do have. “We need not keep our own record of trials and difficulties, griefs, and sorrows. All these things are written in the books, and heaven will take care of them.” –Help in Daily Living, p. 29. We may only have 41 dollars, but we do have.
GEOGRAPHICAL RELIGION
Often people make geographical excuses also for their lack of faithfulness. They have a negative attitude towards their surroundings and see them as disagreeable. “I am too cold to go out and do missionary work. If only I lived in a warmer climate then I would go out more faithfully.” “It is hard to be faithful here in the city. If I lived in the country, l would be a better Christian.” “I simply can’t be faithful living with worldly relatives, wait until I can move out and have my own place, then I will be more faithful.” They have made their religion geographical.
Although the Lord encourages country living, and sometimes opens up the way to do so, the way does not always open up when we want. We have to be content where we are and work for the Lord where we are, not making our geographical location an excuse for our lack of performing our duty. For those who feel this way, usually the most ideal geographical location is never achieved. As the saying goes, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” There is no ideal place on this earth where there are perfect conditions for a person to grow spiritually without being buffeted by Satan. On the other hand though, there is no place on this earth that the grace of God cannot reach. Into the deepest jungles of heathenism, the Lord is there. In the midst of the worst crime centers of the large cities, the Lord is also there.
May years ago I was speaking with one sister in the faith who shared with me the fact that when her children were young they lived in a suburban neighborhood of a large city. For many years they prayed that the Lord would open up the way for them to move into the country which is a much better environment to raise children. The Lord delayed in answering this prayer for many years and at first this sister did not know why. However, when the way opened up and they finally did move, their previous neighbour became a Seventh-day Adventist. This neighbour was a good friend even though very little religion was spoken of during those years. What led this neighbour to seek the truth? She said that every Sabbath she saw them worshipping the Lord. They would go for Sabbath afternoon walks. The neighbour also noticed the excitement when a visiting minister paid them a visit. Only after the Lord opened up the way for them to move did they understand the Lord’s delay. The delay was for the salvation of this neighbour. It is only safe to follow the leading of the Lord. We must never run ahead of the Lord, nor should we lag behind.
What more forbidding environment could a Christian find themselves in during the first century than in Nero’s household. “Nowhere could there exist an atmosphere more uncongenial to Christianity than in the Roman court. Nero seemed to have obliterated from his soul the last trace of the divine, and even of the human, and to bear the impress of Satan. His attendants and courtiers were in general of the same character as himself – fierce, debased, and corrupt. To all appearances it would be impossible for Christianity to gain a foothold in the court and palace of Nero.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 463. But it did. And, once these servants and attendants were converted, they did not ask for a change of environment. They kept on working in their environment, shedding the light of the love of God to those around them. “These were not Christians secretly, but openly. They were not ashamed of their faith.” –Ibid, p. 463
There are many examples in the Bible where people found themselves in seemingly difficult and forbidding geographical locations, but they did not complain or make excuses for lack of obedience due to their less-than-ideal geographical situation. Joseph was faithful to the Lord as a slave and then a prisoner in a foreign land. Moses, at the age of 12, went into Pharaoh’s palace surrounded by idolatry. Daniel, as a young man, was with his friends in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace and attending school to learn all of the wisdom that a heathen empire could impart. John, was on the island of Patmos surrounded by prisoners. Jesus grew up in the city of Nazareth, known as one of the most wicked cities around. And we see the Apostle Paul, with Silas, singing while in prison. Paul continued preaching as a prisoner in Rome. None of them lamented their poor geographical location and circumstances, but like Daniel, who “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat,” (Daniel 1:8), they purposed in their hearts to serve the Lord at all costs, regardless of their geographical location. They did not have the wealth of the world, but they did have their 41 dollars–the daily provision and care of the Lord.
SELFISH RELIGION
For some, the focus is on themselves (selfishness)—they see nothing good in themselves and think they cannot do anything good, or they feel that they have been mistreated or misunderstood.
I Cannot:
Moses said, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11. “I am not eloquent, . . . I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” Exodus 4:10
The Lord said, “Who hath made man’s mouth? . . . have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” Exodus 4:11–12
Jeremiah said, “Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” Jeremiah 1:6
The Lord said, “Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Jeremiah 1:7. “Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.” Jeremiah 1:9
And Jonah simply ran away. The job appeared too daunting.
It is true, we cannot. But, “with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37. Think positive and trust.
Poor me:
Jeremiah at one time stated, “O LORD, Thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.” Jeremiah 20:7–8
The Lord says, “It is not wise to look to ourselves and study our emotions. If we do this, the enemy will present difficulties and temptations that weaken faith and destroy courage. Closely to study our emotions and give way to our feelings is to entertain doubt and entangle ourselves in perplexity. We are to look away from self to Jesus.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 109
To look to self makes us selfish. This is inherent in every human being, unless filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Then we will look away from ourselves and our negative circumstances and situations in this corrupt world of sin, and see the Love of Christ in all that is around us and in all that we do. We will see the positive side to every situation.
Jeremiah even went as far as to say, “Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name.” Jeremiah 20:9
“We must look away from self to the spotless Lamb of God, who did no sin; and by looking to Him in faith we shall become like Him.” –Gospel Workers, p. 427
Jeremiah eventually took comfort in the promises of the Lord, “But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.” Jeremiah 20:11. We too are to look to Jesus and take comfort in His promises. He is our helper and guide at all times and in all places.
THE FAULTS OF OTHERS
There are some Christians who thrive on looking at the faults of others—their negative character traits. Their religion consists on the seeking out the sins of others and trying to purge them with a strong arm. We are to counselled to help our weak brethren (Romans 15:1), and to, “Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others. Dwell upon the good qualities of those with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors and failings. When tempted to complain of what someone has said or done, praise something in that person’s life or character.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 492
“Earnest workers have no time for dwelling upon the faults of others. We cannot afford to live on the husks of others’ faults or failings. Evilspeaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. The very act of looking for evil in others develops evil in those who look.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 492
“The true brethren of Christ are those who guard the interests of their brethren and sisters. How inappropriate it is to condemn others, when every soul is to be saved, not on his own merits, but by the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour! We are all erring, finite creatures, accountable to God for our words, works, and influence.” –The Review and Herald, October 24, 1893
“O that all among us would cease to think or speak evil of others! O that all might see themselves and their neighbors in a true light!.”–The Review and Herald, January 2, 1894. (emphasis mine). Whether you speak or not, it is a sin to even think evil of others. See the 41 dollars in other people’s lives.
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE
When things go wrong in life, or they do not go as we expected, we are tempted to question God and get upset that things did not go as planned. However, we are to focus on the positive through every seemingly negative experience.
Last year, while attending the General Conference in Italy, due to an accident in my little cabin on Friday night, I broke the calcaneus bone (heel), on the bottom of my foot. It was an extremely painful experience. While sitting in the hospital waiting for my sister to pick me up the next day, I looked at the cast and simply thought, “well clearly I cannot work for quite some time, probably 2 to 3 months . . . how will I manage to pay my bills with no income?” I then and there decided that it was not my problem. It was the Lord’s problem. The Lord could have prevented the accident, but in this world of sin, accidents happen in God’s permissive will. So, I committed my care and keeping into His hands. He never disappointed me.
We are not to focus on negatives, but we are to focus on:
What we do have. It may not be the wealth of this world, but we have food today, a place to live where the Lord wants me to be, and the promised treasure in heaven, a mansion and eternal life.
What you can do. We may not eat an unhealthy diet and partake in worldly entertainments, but we have good health, peace and restful happiness found only in Jesus, and working for Him—helping the poor, the sick and the needy. The happiness of the world is fleeting, but the happiness in doing the will of Christ is eternal.
The positive talents and character traits of others. Encourage the growth of their positive traits of character and you are building pillars in the temple of the Lord.
“Look away from your own trials and difficulties. Cease to magnify your little grievances. Put all thoughts of self out of your heart. Cease self-service, and serve the only true and living God. Let His melody be in your heart, and His praises on your lips. The blessings of God are more than the hairs of our head, more than the sands of the seashore. Meditate upon His love and care for us, and may it inspire you with love that trials cannot interrupt nor afflictions quench.” –The Review and Herald, December 23, 1884
It took only five loaves and two fishes for Jesus to feed 5000 men plus women and children (Matthew 14:15-21). What can He do with 41 dollars? In the hands of the Lord, it can go further than we have ever thought possible. Think positive and trust. You have more than the majority of the people on this earth if you have Christ as your leader and guide.
Brethren and Sisters, as the song goes, “Count Your many blessings name them one-by-one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Amen.
Wendy Eaton