Giving God a Chance

(#57)

Read Malachi 3:8-10.

If you are wondering why it is that God doesn't do something for you, you might consider this possibility, that you are not giving God the chance.  God has not changed; He still has "windows of heaven".  But perhaps by unbelief, disobedience and selfishness you may be denying Him the opportunity to bless us His way.

Give God a chance by believing Him.

You wish to go to Los Angeles.  You believe the car or train is reliable.  So you give it a chance.  Or you want to go to Europe.  You believe the boat is trustworthy.  So you step onboard and give it a chance.  Again, you want your watch fixed.  You know a good jeweler.  You give him a chance by leaving it at his store.

Many people are seeking salvation (relief from sin, guilt, condemnation).  But they do not give God a chance by believing.  They may seek to relieve these problems through psychology or education or involvement in great works.  But what Acts 16:31 says is "believe" and "thou shalt" be saved.  He that "believeth shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

Give God a chance by obedience.

This was the issue in Malachi.  God told the people to "bring ye all" the tithe and then they would see God's blessing.  Many of God's promises are conditional.  We are to obey to give God a chance to bless.

The story of Achan (Joshua 7) shows this.  Achan's disobedience deprived the entire nation of Israel the realization of God's blessing.  But when the people obeyed God in dealing with Achan, they then saw God's blessing.  By obedience they gave Him a chance to bless.

Give God a chance by yielding.

The Bible pictures the relationship of God to man as "Potter and clay" (Jer. 18:1-6).  God seeks to make something of us that has His wonderful imprint.  But if we squirm, resist, rebel, we hinder the Potter.  The yielded life is that of the bondservant (Rom. 1:1).  It is presenting our bodies to God (Rom. 6:13; 12:1). In this way He has total freedom to bless.

Give God a chance by prayer. (Jeremiah 33:3)