Mad at God

 

How stupid can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you. You are only the jars he makes! Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "He didn't make us"? Does a jar ever say, "The potter who made me is stupid"?

Isaiah 29:16

Ken Stoltzfus

 

   Several things nauseate me. One is when people describe their (or someone else's) sicknesses and surgeries while we’re eating. Another is when "super saint" Christians get mad at God because they didn’t get their way about something.

   I'm not speaking of young Christians - - those who are just learning the ways of God. I see supposedly mature Christians doing this. Those who, between times when they spill their milk, like to advise others on how to live. 

   Many Christians see God as their errand boy. He owes them. They want to define what is good for themselves and they expect Him to provide it. When He doesn't they get mad at Him. That is spiritual childishness. Amazingly similar to a spoiled brat throwing a fit. Or a "tizzy", as a friend of mine says. 

  So what is spiritual maturity? It is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind", as Jesus says in Matthew 22:37. That means we are to love Him with all that is important to us; with our will and emotions; and with our thinking. Don’t try to convince me of your spirituality because of your “ministry”, your position in the church, your Bible knowledge or your spiritual gifts. If we don’t love God through the hard times, we're still childish.

   I have a friend who, as a small boy, wanted to be a twin. When he realized that couldn't happen, his dream was to have twin sons. Now, as an adult, his wife was pregnant with twins. Boys! It was the fulfillment of his lifelong dream. Then she went in for a checkup one Saturday at six-months and there was no heartbeat. Not even one! Now that is "shattered dreams"!

   Plans were made to induce labor Sunday afternoon to deliver the twins. That Sunday morning I saw my friend lead worship in our church. He unashamedly acknowledged their grief but said that regardless of the situation, God was worthy to be worshiped and he chose to worship Him. He was not in denial - - he just understands who he is and who God is!  Now that is maturity! Thanks brother, you are one of the younger men who give me hope for the future of the church!

   God knows what is best for us. In every situation.

   He loves us. Perfectly.

   His supply is unlimited. Even overflowing.

   He is committed to giving us what we need but He loves us enough to not always give us what we want. This applies to health, money, position, spiritual power and every aspect of life. It applies to individuals and institutions.

   God is so right, and so full of kindness that we ought to be ashamed of ourselves for questioning Him. We ought to cringe at the thought of accusing Him of failing us. Of "tossing in the towel on this whole Christian thing." Or "giving up on God". Especially when we consider that, typically, it is the crud within us that obstructs the full flow of His presence, power and blessing! When things are not going as we want, it is generally a matter that we have wrong desires or there is something within us that is blocking His blessing. It is time to humbly search our hearts in light of Psalm 139:23, 24.

   God intends for our spiritual life to get better and better, but if that’s going to happen we need to deal with the dirt in our life - - the stuff that clogs the flow. Difficulties create opportunities to do that. Instead, many people get mad at God - - so contrary to Jeremiah 18:6, Romans 9:21 and similar scriptures.

   If someone wants to humbly seek God's heart and work through their feelings in a difficult situation, I'll sit with them day or night. But when those who represent themselves to be mature (and especially to be leaders), complain against God and accuse Him of letting them down, I'd like to say, "Quit whining. Go shut yourself in a room, fall on your face before God and don’t come out until you straighten up!"

   Remember what Solomon said in Proverbs 23, 1-3? He says, "When dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat, and don't desire all the delicacies - - deception may be involved." Listen, the pride and arrogance of our heart create a less than honorable appetite of the soul. Accusing God through the words of our mouth is a delicacy to that appetite. We would do well to follow Solomon's advice!!

   It has been said "Never say never", but I think it's safe to say, "When there is a problem it is never God, it is always us."

 

   Born in 1940, Ken Stoltzfus has worked as a pilot, ordained Christian minister, businessman, missionary to Africa and writer. This is #7 in his series "Snippets from the Good Book", and is one of many short articles that can be found at www.flyinghigher.net

 

Bible quotations are from the New Living Translation, © 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers.

 

© 2003, Ken Stoltzfus, flyinghigher.net, P.O. Box 548, Apple Creek, OH 44606 USA. May be printed for personal use and may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes without further permission if proper acknowledgment is given and a copy is sent to the author.