God Owes Me Nothing...
By: Terry Dashner
Faith Fellowship Church…PO Box 1586…Broken Arrow, OK 74013…Pastor Terry Dashner
God Owes No One
Someone once said that there are no atheists in fox holes. Good point. Many people when in danger have tried to bargain with God. What about you? Have you ever said this? “Lord if you’ll just get me through this mess, I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.” And are you?
Why can’t we bargain with God? After all doesn’t the Bible say that God enters into contracts with His people? Well let’s look at this closely. God does contract or covenant with His people, but we can not initiate the covenant on our own merit because we can’t guarantee the covenant, nor its outcome. Only God can because He alone is Sovereign.
If this is true, and it is, why do we try to bargain with God? Actually, what we are doing by bargaining with Him is trying to place Him in our debt. “God you do something for me, then I will do something for you. Okay?” We argue. But He answers, “No, it’s not okay.” Why? Because God owes us nothing. God is self-contained. God is self-existing. He lacks nothing. He needs nothing. He’s perfectly contented with and in Himself.
The primary reason you and I are in the picture is because God expends Himself throughout the universe. He wants to expend Himself through us, transforming us into His Son’s image so that we reflect God’s Glory and walk in His abounding joy. Isaiah 43:7 says that God created us for His Glory.
Now if we think we can help God do this, we are mistaken. All we can do is submit to Him passively, and receive His grace by faith. Oh! By the way—while He’s giving us grace, He’s also giving us faith to trust Him (Ephesians 2:8-10). Look again at Job 41:11 when you get time. God owes nobody! And nobody may borrow anything from Him. So stop trying to place God in your debt. God doesn’t owe you anything. He will never place Himself in debt to you. I hope the point is made because I’m resting my case.
Nevertheless, remember this important theological point. God gives us everything. He gives us a body, soul, and spirit. He gives us a relationship with Him through faith (that He gives us) in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. He abides with us by His Holy Spirit. He gives us love—perfect love in the sense that we freely choose Him or reject Him. He doesn’t want puppets on strings. He created us in His image and likeness—free moral agents, just like Him. He gives us enabling grace to live daily in victory over the kingdom of darkness. He gives us joy. He gives us eternal life. He gives. He gives. He gives. All we can do is receive by faith and thank Him. This keeps us in awe as to His Glory.
Let me wrap up this point. God gives us everything that pertains to life and godliness. We can not work for it. We can not work for more of it. We can only rest in His finished and completed work of redemption. Glory to God for His awesome Glory to behold! Go ahead and just thank Him. I am not worthy of His grace. He knows that. He still wants me to have it—without any debt or strings attached. Now that’s grace. Freely given, freely received.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming soon. While we wait, enjoy His goodness.
It’s free for the asking.
Pastor T.dash………………….
Pastors a small church.
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