A Little Shame Might Do Good

And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. [Ezra 8.21-23]

Perhaps we as Christians today should experience some of Ezra's shame.

Why shame? Because we boast of God's protection and provision all the while purchasing insurance to cover our losses.

I know, I know... I am being too spiritual, right?

The problem is, we have bought in to our own erroneous religious ideas. Unlike Ezra who declared, "Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him" we instead declare, "God randomly inflicts pain and loss even on those who worship and serve Him."

The real problem with making the second statement listed above is that we say God allows bad things to happen to good people, but then we stock up on insurance and medicine to counteract what we say is God's doing! Why would we want to counteract an act of God? Wouldn't that be like fighting against God?

You see, some of our religious ideas today are simply not founded in the Word of God. And, because of that, we look like total hypocrites in the eyes of those watching and paying attention. Shame on us!

Like Ezra, we need to fast and pray. I would suggest that in that prayer we repent for our hypocrisy.

Father, thank You for speaking to my heart through the Bible. Thank You for revealing my own hypocrisy so that I might deal with it - repent as I should - for the faithless and shallow religion it is. Please forgive me for participating in such hypocrisy. I want to trust in You for Your hand of protection on me as a worshiper of You!