Where I grew up, faith in God was a well-stocked commodity. Doubting the Lord was like doubting the sun. It was so obvious, even a blind man could feel its warmth. At family gatherings we prayed to the God who provided, we sang of His faithfulness, and sat around hearing and telling stories about “His wonderful works to the children of men.” In our heritage there was an unbroken line of those God-fearing, Christ-loving, Bible-believing saints who practiced the divine injunction to “…tell it to the generation following” (Ps. 48:13).
We were also encouraged to read first person accounts of the faithfulness of God. I’ll never forget Lydia Buksbazen’s They Looked for a City, and Gladys Alward’s Little Woman. I avidly read the exploits of David Livingstone (born in my father’s hometown) and George Müller and Mary Slessor, “White Queen of the Calabar.” I’ll never forget Jock Purves’ exquisitely written account of the Scottish Covenanters, Fair Sunshine, or Anderson’s thrilling Forgotten Heroes of Italy. I even survived the reading of the Glovers’ A Thousand Miles of Miracles in China—all 378 pages of it (with really tiny print!).
It’s one thing to sing and talk and read about God’s faithfulness in others’ lives; it’s quite another to actually live like that. And of course it isn’t only itinerant preachers who “live by faith.” The scripture states: “Now the just shall live by faith” (Heb. 10:38). That seems fairly comprehensive to me, including every believer. I know you know how to trust the Lord, says Paul, because that’s how you were saved. God is to be trusted in the factory and the office, in the hospital and school, in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary events of our lives. In fact, “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).
How the Lord loves to “show Himself strong” on our behalf. I used to be quite a day-dreamer until I realized what a huge waste of time and brain power it was. God answers prayers, not dreams. In day dreams, we are the heroes (imagine what I would do for the Lord with a million dollars!). In prayers, God is the hero. Faith is that inclination of the spirit towards God that, knowing what a faithful friend He is, expects Him in grace to do for us far better than we ask or even think.
When in life I have welcomed the Lord into the situation, waiting and watching for Him to do a Godlike thing, how He has delighted to surprise me with joy. But how often I have missed such blessing by foolishly acting independently of Him. Do I think He doesn’t care? Or can’t help? Or wants me to fumble on alone?
Let’s remember that we not only receive from the Lord by faith; we also can give to others on His behalf by faith. And to be used by the Lord as agents of His faithfulness in the lives of others does not usually require large resources. But it does require largeness of heart and a soul sensitive to heaven’s directives. Often His work is still forwarded by widows’ mites, by little acts of kindness, a cup of cold water here, a helping hand there.This is not to discourage generous giving; often the widows’ mites are given without the widows’ spirit. I recall hearing a radio preacher address the following question: “My husband and I disagree as to whether we should give ten percent of our gross or net income. What do you think?” His sage answer: “I suppose it all depends upon whether you want net blessing or gross blessing.”
May the testimonies to His faithful friendship in this issue inspire us all to trust more our trustworthy God.
Written by J. B. Nicholson Jr