Mum’s The World Over

I hope you’ll take time to visit Emmah’s site in Nairobi, Kenya.  Start with one of her recent posts about her children greeting their Mum at their gate. She paints a portrait that working mothers all over the world see  – their children greeting them, seeking a bit of treat.

She continues the thought into our daily lives as we greet our Father, and ends with this message from her lesson:

Let’s seek the provider and not the provisions.

She comes to the heart of why we seek God.  Scientists in the world today acknowledge there is – and are seeking proof of – a part of human beings that seek God.  Even atheists state that they have not found Him nor proof of Him, indicating they’ve taken part in the search.

Why seek Him if we do not believe He is the provider?  Because we want what we believe He provides.

We want the provisions.  Some churches promise material gifts, simply name and claim such in faith and God will provide.  We know He can, for He’s told us so – yet he tells us it’s not important:

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Luke 12:27 KJV)

We would all prefer Solomon’s wealth – but do we seek Solomon’s wisdom that he wrote down in Proverbs?  Do we pay attention to the vanities and snares he teaches in Ecclesiastes?

Solomon, as his father, made some errors later in his life, but none making his request known to God:

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? (1 Kings 3:9 KJV)

Although that’s all he asked, God gave him more. Why did God give him more? The Bible tells us:

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; (1 Kings 3:11 KJV)

Asking for what we need to do God’s will – which Solomon asked – gives us the provider.  He will take care of any provisions we need to accomplish His will.

Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. (1 Kings 3:12-13 KJV)

Do we have the faith to seek the provider and ignore the provisions?