Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 04.12.2000
The well-to-do
Who are well-to-do? Are they not the rich, the wise, the beautiful and the healthy? The have-nots are dreaming of a better life. They are fighting a consuming battle against their hard destiny waiting for lucky strokes and trying with all efforts to replace their bad place in life with the better one. A bad lot in this life easily makes man mock God. A good lot again easily makes man forget his eternal lot. God offers everybody a good lot in Jesus Christ. Do you rather want to be a well-to-do eternally than temporarily? You cannot hold on both.
The have-nots
Many feel that their lot in this life is bad. Therefore they are dreaming of a better position. In their dreams they change for a better appearance and for better talent, for a lovelier spouse and for a more respected profession. Urged by their dreams they often try also in practice to start "a new life", though they actually have only one life. In ecstasy of their dreams they resist eagerly all requests which advise them to resign themselves to their fate.
In practice circumstances of life allow only a limited number of opportunities to choose a better lot. Many things remain only a dream no matter how much we pursue them. Therefore those who are unsatisfied with their life are angry at their hard lot. There is a short way from grumbling over one's lot to hating God, because everybody realises that there are issues, which are in the hand of the Almighty.
Many feel that their lot in this life is bad. Therefore they are dreaming of a better position. In their dreams they change for a better appearance and for better talent, for a lovelier spouse and for a more respected profession. Urged by their dreams they often try also in practice to start "a new life", though they actually have only one life. In ecstasy of their dreams they resist eagerly all requests which advise them to resign themselves to their fate.
In practice circumstances of life allow only a limited number of opportunities to choose a better lot. Many things remain only a dream no matter how much we pursue them. Therefore those who are unsatisfied with their life are angry at their hard lot. There is a short way from grumbling over one's lot to hating God, because everybody realises that there are issues, which are in the hand of the Almighty.
A good lot given by God
Most people experience that they are unfortunate in some area of their life. Restless they struggle with their hard lot. Many a man has so concentrated on seeking a worldly good lot that he is not interested in the offer of God. However God would have a very good lot for everybody, if only it would do one. To be a sinner is a bad lot of everybody.
The only way out of this bad lot is to change your lot as a godless person for a child of God in Jesus Christ. After this you can follow the next direction: "Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him." 1Cor.7:17
When man receives Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of his own sins he chooses for himself a good lot. The lot of God's child is much better than the lot of all the well-to-do of this world. Whatever is the lot that God gives His child in this world He takes care of everything what is needed for life.
Most people experience that they are unfortunate in some area of their life. Restless they struggle with their hard lot. Many a man has so concentrated on seeking a worldly good lot that he is not interested in the offer of God. However God would have a very good lot for everybody, if only it would do one. To be a sinner is a bad lot of everybody.
The only way out of this bad lot is to change your lot as a godless person for a child of God in Jesus Christ. After this you can follow the next direction: "Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him." 1Cor.7:17
When man receives Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of his own sins he chooses for himself a good lot. The lot of God's child is much better than the lot of all the well-to-do of this world. Whatever is the lot that God gives His child in this world He takes care of everything what is needed for life.
Although a slave still doing well
A bad lot in this world loses its depressing power, if one has got a good lot in the new world that will come. Therefore Paul could urge even slaves to be satisfied as slaves. "Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you." 1Cor.7:21
This is not an expression of opinion for slavery, but for a good lot given by Jesus. Some of these slaves made the hearts of their hosts so softened that they gained freedom for themselves and for many others.
A bad lot in this world loses its depressing power, if one has got a good lot in the new world that will come. Therefore Paul could urge even slaves to be satisfied as slaves. "Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you." 1Cor.7:21
This is not an expression of opinion for slavery, but for a good lot given by Jesus. Some of these slaves made the hearts of their hosts so softened that they gained freedom for themselves and for many others.
Although a confiscated still doing well
Don't worry about your hard lot in this world, but rejoice in the good lot that you have got in Jesus. Even losing one's property is not a hard lot to a person who has the mind of Jesus. "You sympathised with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions." Heb.10.34
This is not an expression of opinion for robbing, but for the eternal property given by Jesus. Some of these robbed believers made their robbers to change, when these received evidences of a more valuable property which cannot be confiscated.
Don't worry about your hard lot in this world, but rejoice in the good lot that you have got in Jesus. Even losing one's property is not a hard lot to a person who has the mind of Jesus. "You sympathised with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions." Heb.10.34
This is not an expression of opinion for robbing, but for the eternal property given by Jesus. Some of these robbed believers made their robbers to change, when these received evidences of a more valuable property which cannot be confiscated.
Although a divorced still doing well
Many have nowadays a hard lot when their spouse deserts them and they are divorced. In this situation many have difficulties to resign themselves to their fate as unmarried. "To the married I give this command ( not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." 1Cor.7:10-11 "A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes." 1Cor.7:39
This is not an expression of opinion for loneliness, but for the happiness given by Jesus. Some of these deserted ones have got their spouses back, when their spouse got an evidence of the true love that is faithful till death.
It is natural that people of modern times don't understand the previous teachings, because they think too much about their ability to exchange for a better lot. A divorced one who doesn't want to live as unmarried, rebels against God. God cancels a marriage only through death. A human court cannot cancel an effect of God's word.
Followers of Jesus look often unfortunate though they actually are fortunate.
Many have nowadays a hard lot when their spouse deserts them and they are divorced. In this situation many have difficulties to resign themselves to their fate as unmarried. "To the married I give this command ( not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." 1Cor.7:10-11 "A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes." 1Cor.7:39
This is not an expression of opinion for loneliness, but for the happiness given by Jesus. Some of these deserted ones have got their spouses back, when their spouse got an evidence of the true love that is faithful till death.
It is natural that people of modern times don't understand the previous teachings, because they think too much about their ability to exchange for a better lot. A divorced one who doesn't want to live as unmarried, rebels against God. God cancels a marriage only through death. A human court cannot cancel an effect of God's word.
Followers of Jesus look often unfortunate though they actually are fortunate.
Fortunate forever
All worldly good things come from God. How we adopt an attitude towards our gifts and our properties tests the character of our spirit. All glory and thanks to God of everything that is good in my life!
If the good things are taken away from us let us say: God gave and He took away, may the name of God be praised! God gave health and He took it away. Thanks to God for it! God gave property and He took it away. Thanks to God for it! God gave a spouse and He took him or her away. Thanks to God for it! How is it possible to have this kind of attitude? By adopting the mind of Jesus you will be an overcomer.
When God takes away a good thing that He has given as, He tests our faith in the resurrection. When we lose something that is important to us, we have an opportunity to realise our faith.God took away my health, but my heart rejoiced in eternal health, which I will have in my new body. That joy helped me to carry calmly my sickness. You see, sickness is only temporal. If He wants He can restore my earthly health, but my joy doesn't depend on it. All glory to God who is the Giver of all good!
Jesus Christ is my lot! Therefore I am fortunate forever.
All worldly good things come from God. How we adopt an attitude towards our gifts and our properties tests the character of our spirit. All glory and thanks to God of everything that is good in my life!
If the good things are taken away from us let us say: God gave and He took away, may the name of God be praised! God gave health and He took it away. Thanks to God for it! God gave property and He took it away. Thanks to God for it! God gave a spouse and He took him or her away. Thanks to God for it! How is it possible to have this kind of attitude? By adopting the mind of Jesus you will be an overcomer.
When God takes away a good thing that He has given as, He tests our faith in the resurrection. When we lose something that is important to us, we have an opportunity to realise our faith.God took away my health, but my heart rejoiced in eternal health, which I will have in my new body. That joy helped me to carry calmly my sickness. You see, sickness is only temporal. If He wants He can restore my earthly health, but my joy doesn't depend on it. All glory to God who is the Giver of all good!
Jesus Christ is my lot! Therefore I am fortunate forever.
The Bible version used in references is NIV