The Wind and the Sail: Partnering with God

 

A sailing boat is an ideal example of a partnership between man and God. Even the law recognizes and divides actions into two parts - act of man and act of God.

When God works for us to provide various blessings, it is through a combination of actions - act of God combined with an action of man. Unlike the law it does not separate but combines. Much like a sailboat which sails when a sail is hoisted by man to use the wind sent by God.

In our earthly life, we have been destined to work the ground with labor to eat and live. Every action of ours, unless supported by God is useless. A farmer tills the ground, breaks his back to plant but unless the right weather conditions exist, he won't get a crop. Likewise, a factory worker will flourish when demand for that product is high which will happen if economic and natural forces are positive, both of which depend on nature which depends on God.

Yet, we try and solve our own problems, find our own solutions. How much more foolish can we get? Therefore, to overcome we need to partner with God. Listen to  His directions. If He needs us to perform an action, well, that is what we must do. But to do that we need to first "hear" Him. 

A Rudderless Boat

"Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Amos 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD and shall not find it".

As believers and followers, we are extremely dependent on the word. We may not be regular, we may run to in times of trouble only, we may not be familiar with it, but the truth is our lives are centered around the word of God. The word acts like a rudder as we sail to the other end. 

What then would happen if suddenly we were left bereft of the word? Bereft of the rudder? Can we imagine such a scenario in our lives? We would panic at the slightest mishap; we would feel directionless. 

The fact is that we realize the value of something, when we are left without it. It could be a person, a blessing or anything we take for granted like food and water.

Without Gods word we would be left rudderless, drifting from one direction to another.

Today let us not take His word for granted; nor His son's sacrifice for granted but value it and honor it. His word is not for hearing but for listening and following, not for academic discussion, but for our hope and our fulfilment and our peace.