Anything Worth Doing Is Difficult
Accomplishing anything worthwhile takes a great deal of effort. If all we do in life is what comes very easy for us, we will not grow and become all we can be. Joshua taught the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh this valuable lesson.(Joshua 17:17,18) We need to learn it, too.
I am afraid we live in an age when a lot of people want things given to them, or they want them to come to them with a minimum of work. God did not design life that way. Life is all about growing and maturing. If we never have difficulties and trials to overcome, we will not grow and become stronger. Therefore, if all we want from life is to take it easy and to be comfortable, we are hurting ourselves. We will lack the maturity to deal with the normal situations of life.
However, if we strive to accomplish worthwhile goals and to do them well, we will have to extend ourselves. This will cause us to mature and to learn about ourselves and others. It will also cause us to have to trust God more and more, because we can't do these things on our own. When Joshua gave Joseph's family the mountain region to conquer, he told them that they would have to cut down the trees and defeat the inhabitants, who had iron chariots and were strong. He was confident that they could do it, since they were a great people with great power, and God was on their side. The same is true for every believer today. Our enemies are strong, and the task is difficult, but we have the abilities and gifts God has given us, and we have His presence, so we can do what He has for us to do, even if it is difficult. Then, when the goals are accomplished we look back and realize that all of the hard work was worth it to achieve God's will for us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 18-20.
I am afraid we live in an age when a lot of people want things given to them, or they want them to come to them with a minimum of work. God did not design life that way. Life is all about growing and maturing. If we never have difficulties and trials to overcome, we will not grow and become stronger. Therefore, if all we want from life is to take it easy and to be comfortable, we are hurting ourselves. We will lack the maturity to deal with the normal situations of life.
However, if we strive to accomplish worthwhile goals and to do them well, we will have to extend ourselves. This will cause us to mature and to learn about ourselves and others. It will also cause us to have to trust God more and more, because we can't do these things on our own. When Joshua gave Joseph's family the mountain region to conquer, he told them that they would have to cut down the trees and defeat the inhabitants, who had iron chariots and were strong. He was confident that they could do it, since they were a great people with great power, and God was on their side. The same is true for every believer today. Our enemies are strong, and the task is difficult, but we have the abilities and gifts God has given us, and we have His presence, so we can do what He has for us to do, even if it is difficult. Then, when the goals are accomplished we look back and realize that all of the hard work was worth it to achieve God's will for us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 18-20.