GOD CAN MANAGE ALL OUR LIFE-AFFAIRS
The biblical Word of tells us our Lord Jesus Christ loved us enough to die on a cross to atone for our sins that we might have eternal with God (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). And he Bible shows he solves the problems of “all” who trust him (Matthew 15:30; Acts 10:38). God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28). After Jesus rose from the dead, he sent the Holy Spirit to help us manage our troubling life-affairs on earth (John 14:15-17; John 16:7).
The Spirit uses his Power and the Word of God to guide and help us manage all life’s troubling affairs. The Spirit reminds us of what the Word of God says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverb 3:5-6). God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
The Spirit uses the Bible to gives us examples of God managing the affairs of people’s lives, to strengthen our faith in God’s ability to manage the affairs of our lives,
THE BIBLE REVEALS US HOW GOD MANAGED THE LIFE-AFFAIRS OF A MAN NAMED ABRAHAM THROUGH HIS FAITH.
The LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. [Believing God] Abram went, as the LORD had told him” Genesis 12:1-4).
On another occasion God tested the faith of “Abraham” when God told him: “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Believing that God would keep his promise to make Isaac Abraham blessed heir, Abraham said to Isaac: “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” At the place where God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22).
Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead (Hebrews 11:19).
As God promised Abraham, God blessed all nations through the lineage of Isaac; for the Savior of the world, God’s son Jesus Christ, was the human offspring of Abraham and Isaac (Matthew 21)
THE BIBLE TELLS US HOW GOD MANAGED THE AFFAIRS OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR FAITH:
HEBREWS CHAPTER 11 gives us many examples of people whose lives God managed because of their faith in him, including Abraham, Moses and others; too numerous to name here. (You may choose to look at the many diverse examples).
However, we might here look at Moses as an example of a man who was chosen by God to lead his people by faith. Moses had faith in God ability to manage the affairs of Moses’ life and the affairs of God’s people, Israel: “Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned” (Hebrews 11:24-29).
By faith in God, Moses led the people of God through a wilderness where God fed them, provided them water, fought their battles and took care of all their needs (Exodus 16, 17).
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Reports on faith of the apostles in trusting God while spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected to the world.
The apostles who followed Jesus tells us “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” Acts 10:38). Apostles had seen: “Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them” (Matthew 15:30).
Comparing himself to other apostle, Paul said: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again… I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying” (2 Corinthians 11:16-33).
The Apostle Paul may be seem as standing out in trusting God to take care of him in the face of great tests and trials. Yet because of his faith in God ability to take care of all his needs, Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12, 19).
THE SPIRIT USES THE BIBLE TO GIVE DIRECTIONS ON MANAGING OUR LIFE’S AFFAIRS;
In the Bible, we see our Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed often and at different times of the day, saying, people “ought always pray” (Luke 18:1). We should pray to God for his guidance in help with all life’s situations.
I have prayed at different times of the day; but I have learned that when I pray in the morning before I get busy doing other things, God orders my day. He communes with and helps me with things throughout the day; and keeps my mind at peace.
We should thank God for all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Pray that “he will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”–including personal, familial, financial and other needs (Philippians 4:19).
Pray that God keeps your mind stayed on him “in perfect peace” (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:7).
The Holy Spirit reminds us that our loving almighty and all-knowing God and Savior “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love [and trust] God” (Romans 8:28).
