.
In life there are the have and the have-nots. How we interact is the subject
I wanted to talk about this week. How do we respond to those in need? How do
we respond when we have a need? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
At the track we talk about give and take, letting the car with the
advantage go and having the courtesy returned to you when you have the
advantage. Bugs Stevens talked about racing etiquette in a Speedway
Illustrated article that covered the same subject, an unwritten code of
ethics between drivers that showed a mutual respect.
The fact of the matter is that at any given time we may have what we need
or we need something. On the track it is the right setup, in life it is the
resources to live. How we respond to having too much or too little shows who
our trust and faith is in. We try too many times to provide for ourselves
without first turning to God and letting Him provide for us. We see things
through our eyes and forget that God has promised to supply everything we
need.
Do you remember Moses? He led the people out of slavery in Egypt. You
would think they would be grateful, but like any leader of people, Moses
faced the complaints from the nation of Israel. That doesn’t happen; does
it?
They complained about not having food because they saw the desert and
didn’t know how they were going to find something to eat. They wondered
aloud if God had called them to the desert to die. They thought they would
have been better off back in slavery in Egypt. They looked at things with
their own eyes and had no idea what God had in store for them in the
Promised Land. We have many similarities with them don’t we?
We rush to judgment without taking the time to step back and look at the
whole situation. We think we know what is going on but we really don’t
understand how God works. Do you think for one moment that God called the
nation of Israel out of bondage to let them die? Sounds kind of funny when
you say it that way. Of course he didn’t. He had a plan for them just like
he has a plan for us.
I have been to enough driver/crew chief meetings to know that what is
said there is only a fraction of what goes on behind the scenes as it
relates to complaints. I am sure every race director and technical inspector
could write a book.
The fact remains that we are not ready to let things play themselves out
and see what God has in store for us. We would rather complain and whine
about what we don’t have or what we think we need. Before you start
defending yourself, let me explain.
There are times when discussions need to take place in racing about what
is fair and equitable, that is not what I am saying. I am saying we get into
the habit of jumping on something before we actually see how it will work
out. We think we know better when most times we don’t.
God provided food for the Israelites with one simple instruction, Take
only what you need. Like most of us, they didn’t have enough faith and took
more than they needed thinking they would save some just in case God forgot
about them tomorrow. Do you know what happened to the excess? It rotted,
stunk and was filled with maggots. God provided daily for their needs and He
will do the same for us.
In 2 Corinthians Paul tells us that God provides some of us with more
than we need and some of us with less than we need so that we can learn to
have faith in Him. Those with more should give of their excess to those with
too little. Read along;
2 Corinthians 8: 9-15 (NIV),
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might
become rich.
And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter:
Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to
do so.
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched
by your completion of it,
according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is
acceptable according to what one has,
not according to what he does not have.
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed,
but that there might be equality.
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn
their plenty will supply what you need.
Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not
have too much,
and he who gathered little did not have too little."
The last sentence refers to the
Israelites in the desert. They had what they needed if they only took what
was needed. They learned to trust God and have faith in Him to supply their
daily needs. The Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught us to say says the same
thing, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God intended for us to trust Him
on a daily basis and let Him supply our daily needs.
Take a look around and see the stuff you have accumulated. Do you know
someone who could use it? Give it to them, no strings attached. Trust that
God will provide for you when you have a need. Don’t let your life get so
burdened down with stuff that you forget to live. Learn to live in the
freedom that comes with having faith in Jesus and trusting that He will meet
your needs.
Remember Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Think
of it this way; the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. Trust in
God to provide for your needs, give freely from what He has provided you,
live in the freedom of releasing yourself from the burden of stuff. Let God
supply.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto
Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue
this ministry. Thank You.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and
apparel. See them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at
www.rwjm.com. Send us
your prayer and counseling needs no matter what part of our racing family
you are in, or give us a call. Remember that God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586,
Tolland, CT 06084.
Check our weekly printed pages in "Area Auto Racing
News",
the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper.
See our on-line Apparel
Store for subscription information.
Check our home page
http://www.rwjm.com for past
articles.
We invite you to input your thoughts as you sign our Guest Book.
Please remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful
financial support.
Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face
toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
SEND THEM TO:
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
PO Box 586
Tolland, CT, 06084
TheChromeHorn RWJM Archives
Racing With Jesus Ministries Website
|