Who is in control?

Control a person’s livelihood and in all likelihood you control the person. Dictators and tyrants have understood this simple principle since time immemorial. A fact which is hardly surprising, as human dictators carry the DNA of the greatest tyrant of all, the one who seeks to dominate and control every human on earth – including you (and if you are a follower of Jesus, especially you).

Satan will tempt you to sacrifice obedience to Jesus for the sake of financial security and comfort. He would much rather hear your worried mantras of “what we shall eat” or “what shall we wear” than your prayers of “let your kingdom come” or “let your will be done”. Satan delights to see you obsessed by your needs rather than seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness first (Mat 6:25-34).

Of course, I am not saying that Satan is unsubtle. He conceals himself behind money, security and comfort. It seems more palatable, more acceptable somehow, to be chasing these things, especially when we have families to provide for. But they can become lieutenants in the devil’s command structure, demanding your obedience in exchange for your livelihood. Do not forget who you are worshipping when you serve money and all it can get you: health, security, comfort and significance.

When it comes down to it, who are you going to trust? Is God good? Does he love your family more than you do? And is His cause worth fighting for?

The work of serving the purposes of God IN OUR GENERATION is at hand. Are you up for the task? In his book “Don’t waste your life”, John Piper quotes the words of James Bradley to describe the sacrifices of an entire generation in World War 2. “People grew ‘victory gardens’ and drove at the gas-saving ‘victory speed’ of thirty-five miles an hour. ‘Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without?’ became a popular slogan”.

Will we do the same in our generation for the sake of a far greater cause? Or will you bow to the enemy’s lie that he controls your livelihood?

Cheers for now - Ian