Ownership Owned # 2

Ownership Owned # 2

2. To seek His guidance in every undertaking. Not to do so is to act in a spirit of independence, which is as the worldling does. "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God. God is not in all his thoughts" (Psalm 10:4). The clear implication of this is that God ought to be in all his thoughts, and that it is through pride that He is not. No matter how great or how small the undertaking may be, divine guidance should be definitely sought. "In everything by prayer and supplication" (Phil. 4:6). It is only as we so act, that God's lordship is owned by us in a practical way and He is really honored.

We are not only to "Trust in the Lord," count upon Him, but also to "acknowledge Him," seek His direction and help. Has not Christ, here as everywhere, left us an example? "I have set the Lord always before Me" (Psalm 16:8) was His confession. Ah, fellow Christians, is there any wonder that so many of our ways have turned out so disastrously? Let us daily seek grace to heed this word, "In all your ways acknowledge Him."

3. To seek His glory in everything. That this also must be regarded as being included within the scope of the word "acknowledge" is clear from 1 Corinthians 10:31. "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do - do all to the glory of God!" Ah, if only we did so, how very different many of our ways would be! If we more frequently paused and inquired, "Will this be to God's glory?" we would be withheld from much sinning and saved from much foolishness, with all the painful consequences.

Yet, right here, we need to give diligent heed to the clause preceding our text, "Do not lean on your own understanding" has a close connection with what follows, as well as that which goes before. God has not left us to decide and determine what will be to His glory. No, in His loving-kindness He has supplied us with an unerring standard by which everything may be tested, namely His Word.

4. To seek His blessing upon everything. Surely this is what the Christian desires above everything else. Without it, temporal prosperity, the approval and applause of our fellows, or the fleeting pleasure anything may bring you, is worse than worthless. But what right have we to expect God's blessing, if we have not prayerfully sought it?

Let us now observe that the Scriptures record examples of how men of God acknowledge Him in the manner indicated above.

First, behold how Davide, on two occasions, sought the Lord's permission concerning his actions, "And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop?" (1 Sam. 30:8). "And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up" (2 Sam. 2:1).

Second, in the case of Abraham's servant, we have a blessed illustration of one who sought divine guidance on his undertaking, "Then he prayed: O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today; and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, "Please let down your jar that I may have a drink," and she says, Drink, and I'll water your camels too" - let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master" (Genesis 24:12-14).

Third, the outstanding case of one who sought God's glory was His incarnate Son, "Glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify you" (John `17:1). - this ever actuated Him.

Fourth, in Romans 1:10, we find the apostle Paul seeking God's blessing on his journey.

On the other hand, Scripture mentions not a few instances where the Lord's people failed to acknowledge Him in all their ways, and records the disastrous consequences which attended their self-will.  These things are written for our learning.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him." This precept applies to the arrangements of the home, our business affairs, our social life, our church relations, our service to Christ. And our obedience thereto determines the measure in which our lives are pleasing to God, glorifying to Him, and really blessed by Him. Then, let us, more earnestly, daily seek grace to conform to it in everything.

~A. W.  Pink~

(The End)