Worship or Worry
One
night, in the middle of a deep sleep I was abruptly woken up with a word:
“avarice”. I did not know what that word meant and had the thought that perhaps
I should write it down. I was too tired, so I opted to go back to sleep. Awhile
later…the same word shook me awake. It took 3 times of being
awakened with the word avarice. When I heard it for the third time the Lord
kindly spelled it out for me A-V-A-R-I-C-E. I knew I had better just get up and
write it down. I would look it up in the morning and see what it meant; what
the significance of that word was.
Lord, why did you wake me up with that
word? What is so important that you had to do it three times? Is it an
exposition of my heart? A warning or conviction that I have already got there?
Merriam-Webster
defines avarice as: excessive or insatiable desire for
wealth or gain : GREEDINESS, CUPIDITY
Google dictionary:
extreme
greed for wealth or material gain.
I thought I had wrestled through that lesson, but it
turns out I’m doing a ‘loser lap’; I missed the sign that said “trust God here”
so I have to go around the block and repeat the same process.
It’s not that I am pursuing an abundance of wealth
or possessions. I’m not asking for much really. But I have become rather
preoccupied with the looming bills that think they need to be paid every month
as well as the ones that are above and beyond those (hot water tank, vehicle
break-down, medical costs, etc.). Lately, my prayers are filled with, “Oh God,
we need you to intervene and provide for us.” As though security in this world
is the biggest deal. What ever happened to “Jesus, you are all I need”? What
happened to my resolve to express gratitude for the myriad of blessings around
me? Has my bold proclamation that “God is worthy to be worshipped no matter
what” become just a pithy saying?
“No man can serve
two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he
will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24, ASV 1901)
According to Strong’s
Concordance, along with 'wealth', the interpretation of the word mammon is ‘avarice’. Many translations use
the word ‘money’, but I think that is a shallow interpretation. When I saw that
‘mammon’ was translated ‘avarice’ I was stopped in my tracks. Yup, definitely
doing a few loser laps here.
One
cannot pursue both material security and security in your relationship with
Father. One is grabbing control and the other is relinquishing control. One
fills a person with angst (i.e. worry that I might lose it all) and the other
with rest (I am in the Father’s hands and he’s got this). It is impossible to worship
God while worrying about life and the challenges we are facing.
In
the last few weeks I have often heard myself saying, “If only our house would
sell then the rest of this stuff would be manageable.” Then just as quickly I
hear Holy Spirit whisper, “If only you would keep your eyes on Jesus and worship
him for who he is then you could relax. Dad knows what you need and he’s
working on it.”
To
help me refocus on my amazing Father I searched out some of the names he goes
by in the Bible. Here are a few to get you started on your journey of worshipping
him, from Bill Bright, God: Knowing Him by His Names (Orlando, FL:
NewLife Publications, 2000).
The Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord
of lords … Fear the Lord your God
and worship Him and cling to Him. He is your God, the one who is worthy of your
praise”. (Deut.10:17, 20, 21).[2]
*EL-ROI (EL ROY) The God Who Sees
“From
His throne He observes all who live on the earth” (Ps. 33:14). “Nothing in all creation can hide
from Him. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes” (Heb. 4:13).[5]
“O Sovereign Lord! You have made the heavens and earth
by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You!” (Jer. 32:17).[7]
*JEHOVAH-JIREH
(JE HO’ VAH JI’ RAH) I AM the LORD Who Provides
“Don’t worry about having enough food or drink or
clothes … Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give
you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of
God your primary concern” (Mat. 6:31–33)[8]
*Jehovah-Rohi
(je ho’ vah ro ee’) I AM the Lord
Your Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need” (Ps. 23:1).[9]
“He was wounded and crushed for our sins…He
was whipped, and we were healed!”
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
says the Lord of hosts” (Zech.
4:6, NKJ). “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my
rock, in whom I find protection”
(Ps. 18:2).[13]
*JEHOVAH-SHALOM
(JE HO’ VAH SHA’ LOM) I AM the LORD Your Peace
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust
in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!”
No
one else. Nothing else, can satisfy or help, or protect. As I read these names
for God (and there are many more in the Bible) I see that God is more than
capable of looking after me. His character, the essence of who he is, is worthy
of my worship, worthy of my trust.
How
could I forget? How could I get so caught up in my desire to experience external
security? Again, I’m not saying that external security is bad or that I have
arrived and don’t wish for some resolution to our ongoing stressors. I’m saying
I was putting too much emphasis on these things for my sense of well-being and
security. Stuff can be lost, burned, destroyed, and our health can fail…but
God’s love for me will never, ever fade or diminish. He will always be with me
no.matter.what.
Don’t worry
about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you
need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do
this, you will experience God’s peace which is far more
wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts
and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) [emphasis mine]
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