The world's pleasures are often curses in disguise!
(Be sure to
LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
1 Chronicles 4:10,
"Jabez called on the God of Israel saying:
'Oh, that You would
bless me indeed!'
So God granted him what he requested."
There is much apparent good
not worth calling by the
name. What the world speaks of as blessings are, some of
them, often worthless; and many of them are undoubtedly evil and
detrimental. They are counterfeits--they do not bear upon
them the coinage and currency of Heaven. Satan has disguised them--stamped them as true metal--while they are base alloy!
Let us leave our blessings, and the method of their bestowal, with
the Giver of every good and perfect gift--into His hand
committing our earthly all, with this prayer of intense fervor yet
of simple faith, "Oh that You would bless me indeed!"
I want nothing which the world calls a blessing, unless You think
it proper for me. I want no shadows--no baubles.
I do not ask for riches--they may be a snare to
me. I do not ask for . . .
the cup running over,
the barns full,
the fig-tree blossoming,
the
home-nest without the thorn.
These might alienate me from Yourself, and bind me only closer to
earth!
I want blessings indeed. God, I am no judge of
this. Whatever YOU give, will be a true blessing to me. And even
if You take it away--I will strive to believe that the dark and
painful dealing, is Your kindness to me also.
Yes, we repeat,
the world's pleasures
are often curses in disguise--like Cleopatra's
viper, which was hidden in a basket of flowers. There is
often . . .
an adder lurking in the bed of roses,
a
fly in the ointment,
poison in the wine-cup!
But the blessings of God are blessings bearing His own divine seal
and signature. They may come . . .
in frowning providences,
in
baffling dispensations,
in strokes of the chastening rod.
For the present they may seem not joyous, but grievous. But I
am content to be in His hands--joyful or sorrowful, in
health or in sickness, living or dying. O my Father, give Your own
blessing, and I shall bow my heart in submission; for I can only
hear in it accents of paternal love!