Good Morning,
Finally! At the age of twenty, I was no longer dependent. I was independent! I had my own car, paid my own rent, and unfortunately, even had my own health insurance. I had my own job and made all my own meals. Life was great and then it got better. I got married and became interdependent. We shared responsibilities and were happy to love and serve each other. Then I came to vicar, and in some aspects I’ve had to relearn how to be dependent. Take meals for example. The Mielkes are wonderful hosts and excellent cooks, but it’s still strange to be dependent on someone besides myself or my wife for meals.
Where are your areas of dependency? What chores or tasks are almost always done for you? Do you always find the lawn mowed, the coffee made, the laundry folded, the car repaired, or supper made? Do you depend on your spouse, parents or children to love and support you? In last week’s sermon we learned how “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28). So if God promises to work all things for our good, then we can surely depend on God to keep that promise. In all things great and small, whether we realize it or not, we are dependent on God because He is the source of every good gift (James 1:17).
We have a God who promises in Psalm 81 to fill our mouths with His blessings. And not only that, but we’re told to open wide, because the Lord will be abundant in His blessings. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10). Yet all too often we find ourselves doubting if God is going to take care of the little things. We find ourselves wanting to be independent and in control of the little things. At times it can be easier for us to trust God in the big things (forgiveness of sins) than to trust God in the little things (jobs, school, cars) because we know we can’t handle the big things, but it seems like we can be in control of the little things.
God doesn’t have us depend on Him in the little things so that we’ll give up, quit trying, and say God will take care of me. No, God has us depend on him in the little things so that when we’re discouraged and downtrodden we can remember that God will work this out for our good. God gives us rest from fear and worry in our daily lives, just like He tells us in Matthew 6 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” God will take care of you when you can’t take care of yourself.
During our day, let us pray for each other that God will fill our hearts with trust in Him so that we’ll be dependent on Him for both the little things and the most important thing: How Christ lived a righteous life, freely gives it to us, and took away the punishment for our sins.
In tomorrow’s sermon text (Matthew 14:13-21) God assures us that we can depend on him for the little things and the big things.
In Christ,
Vicar Naumann
