From the April-June 2008 Issue
Blessing turned into failure
Krzysztof and Aneta Rutkowski
Church building, WloclawekSuccess has a lot of names. Usually it is related to values people subscribe to. For some it may mean another step in a professional career; others see it as material prosperity, and those who value the family will be fulfilled watching their children doing well. These are just a few examples. Usually one finds that being successful in the nice correlation of values he or she believes in, would be just perfect.
There is no word ‘success’ in the Bible, but often, in both the Old and New Testament, the reader comes across the term ‘blessed’. It is rare, at least outside church life, to hear someone say, for example, ‘I am blessed in my work’. The reason is simple. The word ‘blessed’ involves God as the One who acts on behalf of an individual, a group of people, or the world, and it has a very religious sense. Since the idea of God as presented in the Scriptures has been removed from the hearts and thoughts of many in modern societies, words like ‘blessing’ or ‘blessed’ gradually disappear from common vocabulary. That is a failure. But was there not once a blessing?
Blessing…
The Old Testament King Solomon had been a really blessed man before he recorded a failure. He was born in a relationship between King David and Bathsheba which had begun with adultery, followed by a murder and the loss of their first son. Not a good start – many would say. In spite of the very complicated political and family situation it was Solomon who became a king of Israel. He was granted not only the throne of his father, but in answer to his prayers he was given wisdom and other royal attributes that made him an outstanding ruler. In worldly terms Solomon would be called a successful man. Wisdom, justice, incredible wealth, fascinating building projects, fame and recognition in his own land and abroad; military power and peace featured in his good days. How could it be? The reason for the visit of the Queen of Sheba explains the source of this blessing – ‘And when the Queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD…’ (1 Kings 10:1).
Failure…
‘Love is all you need’, sang John Lennon. Solomon could not listen to these words on an MP3 player for two obvious reasons, but he certainly knew what love was. Sadly, his love ceased to be directed by God’s commandments. It is quite clear that for Solomon, as a successful ruler, a whole new world was opened up. Some of the offers that came along were women of royal and foreign origin, plus concubines, and he just loved them. He could afford a thousand wives and three hundred concubines. So the way downward began and it may be summed up in these words – he loved them, they led him astray, turned his heart after other gods, and eventually he did evil and did not follow the Lord completely. It all started with love for the wrong women and ended up in disaster. But was there not once a blessing?
A good way…
It is not unusual to hear a sermon or read a book that deals with suffering, trials, tests and persecution in the Christian life. That is perfectly right, as these things form part of human experience. But believers do enjoy God’s blessings as well. There are times when their spiritual life flourishes and they see, in various aspects of life, the fruit of their labour and commitment to the Lord. It prompts them to praise the Lord for such favours. It should also be a reason to bring him even more glory by serving him with constant passion – ‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded’ (Luke 12:48).
But there may also come temptations in such times. The Lord Jesus Christ, after his exceptional baptism and victorious forty days of fasting, was tempted. His way of handling the situation was: ‘It is written…’. He knew his Father’s will and was obedient. He loved his Father and kept his commandments. He was determined to complete the mission he was given, and he succeeded. How different it was to what Solomon had done. He knew the first commandment, but he ceased to follow it.
Those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ have the desire to complete their life in a glorious way. Therefore they do not take every opportunity that comes along, but they test it by checking what is written. They don’t think that God’s blessings make them a Christian ‘elite’ who are so close to the Lord that they are not bound by his commandments. They need to be careful not to take some sort of holiday from following Christ. Whether enjoying exceptional blessings or experiencing severe suffering, they must hold on to the love of God and his commandments.
Will God bless…?
In recent years citizens of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have become quite familiar with those who inhabit Poland. These are not South or North Poles. However, the number of those one may come across are Poles apart, as they have to part with their families and come to work in the UK to provide for them. Since the scale of emigration is so high, there is a lot of discussion about the social, psychological, political and economic results of it. Christians are particularly concerned about how this situation has affected the Church in Poland.
Whatever may be said, this is the reality that believers in Poland and the UK are challenged with. An acknowledgement that this exodus is in God’s providence makes a good start. What is more, a godly mind seeks ways that God may be glorified through it. One of the practical ways is to make Him known to the world, for example, to a Polish immigrant. He or she should already have some idea of God and salvation as most of them come from a Roman Catholic background. So there is something one may start with.
The European Missionary Fellowship has recognized the need of work among immigrants in the UK who come from other European countries. Among many other activities, EMF supports the work of LEGATIO, a Christian publishing house in Poland. Apart from financial support, they have helped in getting books and tracts over to the UK to be delivered to churches who need them in their outreach to Polish people. But the aim for the future is to sell LEGATIO’s books, such as Right with God by John Blanchard; Jesus Crucified for Me by Paul Tucker; Which Way to God by Peter Jeffrey, and over forty other titles, through Christian booksellers in the UK. It is certainly a matter for fervent prayer. LEGATIO has been blessed with people who have supported it financially over the years, but there is still a great need for this kind of help and it will certainly be much appreciated.
As believers consider how God has blessed them and the world greatly through sending his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, should they not in their appreciation and thanksgiving praise Him for it, live godly lives and spread the Good News wherever they are?