Childlike Faith
Jacy, my only girl, had a wonderful time flying the above kite at the beach. Months later back at home we didn’t have the kite making supplies and she was longing for that delight again. Her determination got me to thinking…
I have really been pondering this idea of faith and multiplication. It seems to me God is fully able to do wonders and add numbers to our midst. However, there is an error when numbers drive our focus and displaces trust.
Hebrew 10:38 But the just shall live by faith;
Faith requires us to trust God.
David is seduced away from faith.
1 Chronicles 1-2Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel. David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, “Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population. I want to know the number.”3 Joab resisted: “May God multiply his people by hundreds! Don’t they all belong to my master the king? But why on earth would you do a thing like this—why risk getting Israel into trouble with God?”4-7 But David wouldn’t take no for an answer, so Joab went off and did it— canvassed the country and then came back to Jerusalem and reported the results of the census: There were 1,100,000 fighting men; of that total, Judah accounted for 470,000. Joab, disgusted by the command—it, in fact, turned his stomach!—protested by leaving Levi and Benjamin out of the census-taking. And God, offended by the whole thing, punished Israel.8 Then David prayed, “I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust; forgive my sin—I’ve been really stupid.”
David’s action was not prompted by faith, he was seduced into reliance on numbers rather than God. Why weigh out the ability of the men without taking into account your faith in God?
The boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish, could have reasoned that there was not enough substance, to nourish and strengthen the thousands. He would have been right. But GOD, asked for something and the boy gave his something which was more than enough, it created surplus. This is true mulitiplication. We sing “Our God Is Able” let us live this trust, as well as sing.
I am convicted that in order to see God multiply we have to give him our trust and the little we have in our hand. You can not see the thousands fed while holding on to your lunch. Faith inspires actions of trust. Hebrews 11:1 Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Children are like that though- young enough to believe.
My daughter, set out to make a kite. Her supplies were not favorable to the task. However, she had the advantage of a twenty-something hanging out and willing to help. They found sticks in the wooded areas around the house. They tried different types of paper, grabbed some string and began to work. She didn’t consult anyone as to if her task was possible. She just set out to do.
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| “and she did” |
How are you applying your faith? If we gather no one, and give nothing, we will have no multiplication. Yes, take note any number mulitiplied by zero is still zero. We must come to God and dare believe that He is a multiplier of men. God can increase, are you willing to trust your little into HIS hand?
With our faith firm in God, believe. What would you do if you knew with God it is enough?
2 Cor 9:6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”10For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
