One of the dangers we saw in the treatise on social media is bringing yourself in comparison to others. It is an age-old infirmity as the story in Genesis 16 shows and as elaborated in Psalm 73:2-14.
Here’s my story: I narrowly missed losing it all. I was stumbling over what I saw the wicked doing. For when I saw the boasters with such wealth and prosperity, I became jealous over their smug security. Indulging in whatever they wanted, going where they wanted, doing what they wanted, and with no care in the world, no pain, no problems—they seemed to have it made. They lived as though life would never end. They didn’t even try to hide their pride and opulence. Cruelty and violence are parts of their lifestyle. Pampered and pompous, vice oozes from their souls; they overflow with vanity.
They’re such snobs—looking down their noses. They even scoff at God! They are nothing but bullies threatening God’s people. They are loudmouths with no fear of God, pretending to know it all—windbags full of hot air, impressing only themselves. Yet the people keep coming back to listen to more of their nonsense. They tell their cohorts, “God will never know. See, he has no clue of what we’re doing.” These are the wicked ones I’m talking about! They never have to lift a finger, living a life of ease while their riches multiply. Have I been foolish to play by the rules and keep my life pure? Here I am suffering under your discipline day after day. I feel like I’m being punished all day long. Psalms 73:2-14 TPT
When your delayed expectation is set against the rapidity with which the world around us is changing, it is only by the grace of God and steel discipline not to take things into your hands! But, when impatience regarding what you genuinely want to have is unrestrained, your:
- Thoughts,
- Friendly logic or counsel, and
- Prevailing culture
will take you over and your thoughts will drive your action. You will drift from the sure promise of God.
Abram wanted a child, so he acquiesced to Sarai’s suggestion to follow the culturally accepted path. The same was true of Sarai, in her now desperate desire to have a child for Abram, her impatience took over, dictating her action.
When desperation sets in to have something, impatience takes us down the wrong path along with consequences that we don’t anticipate becoming the result. The result of what Abram and Sarai allowed, and a decision they consciously took is with us today in the increasing Middle East Conflict. O Lord, teach us to wait for Your timing. God’s promise ultimately came to pass in Isaac. Consider these scriptures
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?…Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:1,3,4
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity… Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass…Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalm 37:1,4,5,7
I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalms 40:1
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Psalms 62:5
Shalom.
Pastor Afolabi Oladele
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