So when it comes to fund raising, we have to move beyond each of these obstacles and ask. If we don't, we won't get very far. We must start by asking the Lord in prayer to provide for our needs, and then we must ask our friends to provide the means to this end. Yikes. That is scary.
We're studying Nehemiah in my small group here in town, and it has been the perfect study in this season. So far, chapters 1 and 2 have been such an encouragement. In the first chapter, we see Nehemiah's heart for God and his dependence on him in prayer as he is moved into action to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. We also begin to observe his character in the face of opposition in chapter 2- he is humble, yet so bold. After praying for months (yes, four months), Nehemiah is finally given an opportunity to approach the king about this venture. Even though in this moment he became "dreadfully afraid," he didn't back away in fear. He prayed to the Lord and then boldly asked the king to let him rebuild the walls, and then he asked him for materials and protection. The king granted Nehemiah everything he asked for.
What if Nehemiah had chosen to keep quiet instead of asking the king for what God had instructed him to do? Nothing would have happened and Nehemiah would have been disobedient to God. And as he began this work, Nehemiah made a plan: he prayed and trusted God to provide, but he didn't sit idly around waiting for something to happen- he worked hard to put the plans of God into action. So it must be with us.
James 4:2 says, "You do not have, because you do not ask." How often is this true for us? How often do I miss out on something simply because I fail to ask for it? There are so many times we cannot or will not receive unless we ask, and too frequently we resist asking because of fear. Matthew 7:7-11 says this:
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
God has so many good gifts in store for us, but we miss out all too often when we don't ask. And what father does not delight in giving good gifts to his children? So much more then does our Heavenly Father! Oh, how it delights Him when we come to Him with empty hands asking for them to be filled. He may not always fill them in the way or with what we expected, but His gifts are always good.
So when it comes to funding, yes, we must ask. But it is a chance to invite our friends into trusting the Lord with us to provide for them as well as they make a sacrifice. And in turn, we both get to witness the miracle of how God creates much out of little!
I did the math (yes, I am a nerd and a math major) with my financial partners in ministry: 87% of them gave after I approached them in some form for support. And God provided 100% of what I needed last year through these friends. But how would He have provided if I wasn't obedient to follow and bold to ask? I can't give an answer for that.
The most common command in Scripture is this: "Do not fear." Thirty five times in the English Standard Version God says, "Do not fear," 7 times He says, "Do not be dismayed," 33 times He says, "Do not be afraid," 7 times He commands us to "Take courage" or "Be courageous," and 10 times he says, "Be strong and courageous." I think God is trying to communicate something to us...
I hope this encourages all you out there who are trusting the Lord to provide this summer. Just remember to pray, trust, and ask.
No comments:
Post a Comment