4.13.9 "Don't Take the Short-Cut!"

"Don't Take the Short-Cut!"

Joshua 7:16-9:2
Luke 16:1-18
Psalm 82:1-8
Proverbs 13:2-3

Are you a goal oriented person? Do you have specific objectives that you want to accomplish down the road? For some it could be a monetary issue, for others a job position, others even ministry goals. Maybe you want to get married. Maybe you just want a happy marriage. I should state right up front that these are not in themselves unhealthy drives. God places passion and desire within us. He wants us to strive for growth and pursue his promise.

Having goals and vision can also be a dangerous thing. There will always be temptations to take a shortcut to achieve the goal. There can be many temptations to move ahead of God's timing.

Yesterday we read about Achan's sin. The people were instructed not to keep anything of the spoils from Jericho for themselves. Achan did. Today, his sin is revealed to everyone. Listen to his confession.

"Achan replied, 'I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. For I saw a beautiful robe imported from Babylon, and some silver worth $200, and a bar of gold worth $500. I wanted them so much that I took them...'" (Jos. 7:20-21)

As a result of his sin, him & his family were destroyed. I find it interesting that now the Lord instructs the people to attack the city of Ai, and listen to this instruction:

"... but this time you may keep the loot and the cattle for yourselves." (Jos. 8:2)

If Achan had waited for God's timing, he would have had plenty. But his inability to be obedient and faithful to God's commands destroyed him. He wanted to take the shortcut.

We can think "I'd never do something like that," but the temptation isn't always in a huge "destroy the family right away" kind of thing. It happens in little things. It can be so easy to fall into the trap of manipulation. For example, if you want a promotion at work and someone else is in the running, you can be tempted to cut them down to others. Or if you want to skate in the olympics you can club another skater in the knee...

This type of temptation can dwell in finances as well. You may be tempted to hold off tithe until you "catch up" or there may be other little things. What we fail to realize is that when we give in to the short cut, we alienate ourselves from the full gratification of the promise.

Jesus explains this in Luke "... for unless you are honest in small matters, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people's money, why should you be entrusted with money of your own?" (Luke 16:10-12)

Each and every day we are in the proving ground for the promise ahead. The Lord is desiring to use the circumstances of our lives as tools for shaping our character and moulding us into trustworthy stewards of his resources. As we said yesterday, there is more at stake than we think.

Can you imagine what Achan's thoughts would be from his view from eternity? "if only I had done it God's way..."

Don't trade the promise for a bowl of soup. Don't feed the appetite of flesh. Don't take the Short-cut. Be faithful in small things. God has BIG plans!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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