Obstacles to God's Best
The human heart is an interesting study. Understanding our own is a challenging pursuit and rightly discerning what is really going on in our heart generally comes by way of revelation by the Holy Spirit. Human pride, the fountainhead of many of our sins, is always lurking in the background looking for ways to establish itself. Sometimes boldly, often more subtly, pride declares our special position as one of God’s covenant people. It does so with thoughts like “my situation is different and so that truth does not apply to me or my current situation.” Pride declares we are special, we are unique, we are above, we are better than other people and therefore we can violate the laws and principles that govern life in the Kingdom of God. When we fall for these lies it blocks us from a present experience of the abundant life and many times the fulfillment of His promises to us.
The apostle Paul reminds us of this danger we all face in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. Using the historical example of Israel’s taking of the Promised Land, he declares it is possible to experience divine guidance, divine protection, supernatural provision and still not realize our own personal promised land as the covenant people of God. In verse 5 he writes, all these things were true of the people of Israel, yet God was not pleased with some of them and they were “laid low in the wilderness.” The expression is another way of saying they died in the wilderness, never tasting or experiencing the promises God had already prepared for them. He goes on to write that these things happened as an example to us, written for our instruction “to not crave evil things” (verse 6). Does God have your attention yet?
There are 4 general categories of sin that stirred God’s anger, brought about their destruction and kept them from their experience of the promised land. They are defined for us in verses 7-10 and are as follows.
Idolatry- Idolatry is the worship, adoration, devotion to or seeking of someone or something more fervently than God. It is putting our trust in money, possessions, our jobs or even another person for our provision and security. It is valuing status, comfort, pleasure or the affirmation of others more than walking in obedience to God’s will. It is living for self and our personal fulfillment rather than living God’s plan for our lives. Where do you look for your security and future? Can you say with Jesus, “I live only for the will of my Father”?
Immorality- Immorality includes any and all forms of sexual perversion. The obvious violation would be any sexual act outside the covenant of marriage between a husband and wife. But also includes sexual fantasies, pornography, lewdness, provocative dress. It includes all acts of the heart and the mind, as well as the body.
Trying the Lord- The example Paul refers to here comes from Numbers 21:4-9 where the people had become “impatient with the journey.” Specifically, these verses are the account of the Israelites testing the Lord’s patience by complaining about the desert conditions and the lack of variety in the food, manna, He is providing. Rather than being grateful for the daily supernatural provision of food, the people were dissatisfied with having to eat the same food each day. What goes on in your heart over your living conditions and daily routine? Are you experiencing God’s goodness and the peace of being surrendered to His perfect will or are you discontented, frustrated and maybe even angry about it all? Your lack of contentment may be hindering your realization of His promises in your life.
Grumbling/complaining- This last condition describes a general attitude about life where one is continually unhappy or complaining about what they do or don’t have. They don’t like their job, or their church boring or their spouse isn’t as successful as others. The list is endless. The key characteristic is there is a general restlessness that results in a discontented and grumbling spirit. Are you living out of a grateful heart? Or are you chronically feeling disappointed and frustrated about your life?
Paul ends this section of his letter to the Corinthians with the admonition in verse 12, “therefore, let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.” Essentially, he is saying we are to examine our own hearts for these errors of the Israelites in order to avoid falling out of favor with the Lord. Literally, Paul is telling us is to engage in this sinful behavior is to run the risk of never realizing God’s best for our lives but to choose the fate of dying in a spiritual wasteland of our own making. The solution if we find ourselves there is genuine repentance that results in a lasting change in behavior.
I would invite you to take some time to read and study 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 and see what God would have to say to you about your own walk with Him. Respond in faith, repentance, and obedience to all He reveals. In doing so, we can pursue God’s best for our lives together.
Author
Pastor Bruce is the Executive Director of God's Living Stones. He lives in Omaha, NE, with his wife Barb. They have two adult children.
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