Impatience has overtaken modern man like Kudzu does a forest. We are always in a hurry. We’re like a humming bird rapidly darting from one spot to the next, hesitant to remain in one place very long.

The Spirit of the Lord told the Apostle Paul to write these words,

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

The word “study” means to be diligent, or to exert one’s self. Here lies the object of stumbling for many Christians. To study takes much effort, but most today want to be spoon fed with the Readers Digest version. Most Christians are simply lazy.

The one place that quickly comes to mind where people will sit for hours at a time is in front of the television. The reasons are obvious. We want others to do all the work and provide us information and/or entertainment by video. It is much easier to watch and listen to something than it is to read about it and study its content. In addition we always get the short version on television in relation to the subject matter we are watching.

We look at those who excel in sports and think they are an over-night success, but do we realize the years of hard work they applied to their “success?” Those who have excelled in music have had to spend a lifetime practicing, before they could be considered a virtuoso.

Would it be wise to send untrained soldiers out to battle? Obviously not, but every Christian is in a spiritual battle and needs to take the time to be properly trained. The Apostle Paul said to the Ephesians,

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Is it possible that most Christians are unprepared for their spiritual battles? The armor is not in place and we have no idea how to use the weapons that God has provided for us. Therefore Satan mows us over like new grass under a high powered lawn mower. We need to,

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)

Until we slow down, and abandon our quick-fix attitude, we will continue to plod along in ignorant bliss.

Most of us, in one area or another, are impatient about something. We have been conditioned with that attitude due to the fast-paced world we live in. Allow me to share some of my frailties and see if you can identify with me:

I’m a microwave guy (referring to speed), and sometimes that’s too slow. My wife prefers to cook and she is a great cook, but she may have to run me out of the kitchen because I’m too impatient. “Is it ready yet?” “No dear. Go sit in the living room, and it will be ready soon.”

When going somewhere, I can’t stand being late. Even being on time is a drag. I would rather be early. The Lord, in His omnipotent wisdom, gave me a woman in marriage to teach me to be patient when going somewhere. In earlier years, I felt my insides would explode, having to wait for the Mrs., but as the years have passed, I have learned to not be so “antsy.”

I used to be very impatient driving behind those old grandpas who would drive slower than I walk. Now I am one. Enough said.

I’m still impatient at times, but nothing like I was in my earlier years. But get this, even when I was younger, I could sit for hours on end and read, and I loved to study, especially the Bible. Perhaps our “shake-a-leg” attitude has something to do with our priorities. Understand this also; my preference in reading and studying God’s Word certainly does not indicate that I was some spiritual giant. To the contrary, I think I needed more guidance than others in order to stay out of spiritual trouble.

So what is the point of this article?  The ground work is laid in the book of Isaiah.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

For some reason, this verse reminds me of going on a trip when the children were little and one of them saying after we exit the driveway, “Are we there yet?”

We pray and want answers now … right now actually. We have problems and want God to solve them immediately. We don’t know what to do with our life and are impatient when the Lord doesn’t quickly tell us what direction to take. We need a job now, and God isn’t making it happen. Our Father wants us to wait on Him.

How many have found themselves in a bad marriage because they would not wait upon the Lord to bring the right one along? Maybe they married in spite of what the Bible says about being unequally yoked, and now they’re paying for it. Others have found themselves single, pregnant and penniless because they listened to a slick tongued Romeo instead of listening to God.

When it comes to a house and other possessions and amenities for the family, the young couples today want to start at the same place it took their parents 40 years to arrive at. No wonder they’re choking on debt.

I’ve noticed in hiring employees over the years that the young ones usually want to start at the top and work their way up in the company. There usually isn’t much thought given to starting at the bottom and “paying your dues.”

The number one issue that concerns us with our electronic toys (computers, cell phones, etc.) is “speed.”  We want to download larger and larger files faster and faster. We want to connect to friends faster and faster. We want to put more and more information in smaller and smaller areas and continually increase our speed of operation. Our world is all about “speed.”

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Daniel 12:4)

That verse certainly describes our generation, for few have learned to wait upon the Lord.

Look, I doubt there are any of us who has not gotten the “cart before the horse” at one time or another because we just could not wait upon God. I know I have. If you say that you’re never impatient, maybe you need to read 1 John 1:9.

It’s probably harder for us to slow down in our fast-paced world than any other generation, but the reward is there for those who do. It isn’t always easy, waiting on God to take action in our life. He never said it would be. He simply said that those who wait on Him will grow stronger. Would it not be a wonderful attribute of our Christian life, to be able to relax and grow stronger in the Lord?

Frozen dinners may be your cup of tea, but made from scratch meals are mine. They may take longer, but they’re worth it, especially when the chef knows what he is doing. God knows how to take the recipe of our life and mix it in such a manner that will bring Him glory and strengthen us. We are not assembly line products. We are made in the image of God, and require the element of time to shape us into what He wants us to be. He knows just when to turn the heat on, and at what level. He knows when to mix the added ingredients. He knows which ingredients to use, and He knows when to turn the heat off.

We are like a child in the park who wants to run way ahead of its parents. If we could just slow down and follow the Lord instead of trying to lead Him (which isn’t going to work), just think how much smoother our life could be.

Grant Phillips

Let me say right up front that I like prosperity. Much has changed in the past 65 years (almost) that I’ve been around, and not all for the bad. For example, I would far rather have the bathroom inside the house than outside. How did we men ever survive the early days of TV, before the remote control? Was there actually a time before the microwave?

Air-conditioning at church was a hand held fan from the local funeral home. There was no air-conditioning at school, in your home or your family automobile.

A shot before painful dental work is much preferred. Many medical procedures are not as painful when compared to not many years ago. Pain medicine is good. Knock me out and just wake me up when it’s over.

The common, everyday family today has luxuries that weren’t even dreamed of when I was growing up. Any subject you might mention has been affected by prosperity. Nothing has been left untouched, but now the problem. Prosperity nearly always produces laziness.

The outdoors used to be a child’s domain, but now you can’t drag one outside to play. Work was once something expected by every member of the household, but now the ever widening posterior continues to expand. The Apostle Paul said to his protégé Timothy,

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1Timothy 5:8)

Many conveniences of our prosperity have made our work easier. Believe me I would rather ride the lawn mower than to push one with no motor. I’ve been there. Is that bad? No, not at all, but the easier our work load becomes, the lazier we get.

The greatest tragedy of this resulting prosperity driven laziness is our nonchalant attitude toward God, Christian and non-Christian alike. Have you ever noticed that when things are going badly in our life, we call out to God, even non-Christians? Send us prosperity though and we just don’t have time for God anymore.

Can there be any doubt that Jesus is speaking to our generation when He addresses the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-22?

14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

In the early church people sat on the ground or on stone. Otherwise they stood. How would that fly in today’s modern church? Our floors are carpeted. Our pews are cushioned and soft. We even have a cushioned back to lean on. Few churches today still have the old wooden pews since they’re “not comfortable,” but how many will go to a ballgame and sit for hours on a cold metal or wooden bleacher with their knees in someone’s back?

Prosperity has also blessed us in the Bible study helps that are available for Christians today. Many Christians have taken advantage of these opportunities, but unfortunately most have not. It is so much easier to learn from the Bible today than when I was growing up, but apparently not easy enough for those spoiled by today’s luxuries.

Maybe it would be better if prosperity had not come our way in the first place, at least with reference to our interest in God. No … I still like prosperity. Maybe it would be better if we just showed our appreciation to God by thanking Him for it and using it for His glory. We could also use it to make ourselves more available to serve Him better. But if we think what we’re doing needs no improvement, is anything really going to change? No, nothing will change if we have a Laodicean spirit.

Prosperity has provided grandiose worship centers with attaching buildings for fellowship, sports and other activities. The interior of each is cushioned in luxury. Healthy church bank accounts supply its members with an orchestra and choir and the very best in sound equipment. Top dollar is paid for a pastor that has beautifully orated non-offensive spirit-lifting twenty minute messages that just make a tingle go up one’s leg. Sin is never addressed so as not to offend. The qualification for membership in this society of snobs is a healthy bank account. The poor can go to their own church.

Does this sound like a modern day Laodicean church to you? It does to me. Does that mean that all large plush churches are Laodicean minded? No, it does not, but there are plenty around, enough that the predominate attitude of today’s professing Christian is Laodicean. Does it mean that only large plush churches are of this spiritual attitude? Again, the answer is a resounding no. This “God’s lucky to have me” attitude is found in any size church, and it’s getting worse.

In Revelation 3:20 Jesus is knocking on the door of this “lost and don’t know it church” trying to get in. Three verses later in Revelation 4:1 He is calling His true Church out of the world. We call it the Rapture.

Prosperity is not bad, just as money is not bad. It is the love of money that is bad (1 Timothy 6:10) and it is the love of prosperity that is bad. So prosperity is not a curse unless we allow it to steer our love away from God. If we choose, we could use the prosperity that God has given us to proclaim Jesus Christ in even greater ways than our Christian ancestors, or we can love it more than God and wait for its condemnation.

Yes, Jesus is knocking on the door of the Laodicean church. In all likelihood you may be part of one. Do you hear it … the knocking that is? If you do, respond, for the next sound you won’t hear will be, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” (Revelation 4:1) At this junction of your life, your life of ease will be over.

God knows how to get our attention. Those in the Laodicean church who have no time for God now because they are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, will quickly discover that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. He will strip away the luxury and security to steer their attention where it needs to be, while those who are truly His are enjoying His presence in Heaven.

Prosperity is not bad in and of itself, but if we allow it to make us “fat and lazy”, not just in body but also in mind, we are headed for doom. Will you use it as an instrument to help you serve the Lord Jesus better, or will it be your curse?

 

Grant Phillips