TAKING CARE OF ANOTHER MAN'S HOUSE
HOW DO WE OBTAIN THE THINGS PROMISED TO US? HOW DO WE OBTAIN OUR DESIRES, WHEN THOSE THINGS WE NEED OR LONG FOR ARE NOT FORTHCOMING?
JESUS SAID 'If you do not take care of that which another's, why would you be given your own?' [Luke 16:12]
That which belongs to another could be their wealth, their ministry, their 'house' [church], their calling, their business, their 'stuff' [home, property, car etc], their reputation--really, the list is endless.
Picture, if you will, a man called to the ministry, who has loads of potential to be a great shepherd over a large flock, but he has a weakness which will hold him back.
That weakness is that he can't find a good word to say about church leaders who have all the things he desires--a large church with all the success that brings.
SO HE DISPARAGES all those who have 'big' successful churches, saying that small churches are where it's at; the finances of such substantial houses of worship are all wrong, and only utterly unrighteous; the leaders are in error or wicked in some way, and there's just not one good word to be said about these particular churches or ministries
.
And much, much worse is said, sadly to the Lord's great chagrin.
Will that individual saying these things be given the things he so desires? Will the Lord be found rewarding these kinds of people with the desires of their hearts?
The scripture above answers those questions.
If we don't 'look after' that which is another's, we are hardly going to be given our own.
This applies also to those who are called to the ministry of prayer and intercession: If we 'bash' others in the prayer movement, will we be given our own 'prayer house'?
If we bash any church that is given to prayer, will we find ourselves receiving the answers to the prayers we pray?
I'll let the reader answer that.
MINDING OTHERS STUFF
How do we 'mind' that which is not ours?
It stands to reason that we would treat that entity as though it was our own.
We would give it the respect we would like, the 'good thoughts' and positive words we would choose to think and speak over it, were this ministry ours. We would imbue it with hope. We would want it to have the very best reputation.
I had occasion recently to speak to someone about this very issue. The Lord gave me this exact verse to point out to this person that to gain the biggest blessing on any spiritual venture we undertake, and to walk in the greatest anointing possible, we need to honour and speak well of other individuals who are called to build an identical or similar work, or travel a similar path.
TYEING UP HEAVEN'S HANDS
We 'tie up heaven's hands' when we don't understand that we can be pouring cold water on our very own ministry by failing to speak well of a brother. We don't have to agree with everything another might say or do--that's not the issue. It has to do with operating out of the Culture of the Kingdom, which is a Culture of Honour.
I don't like it when my children are criticised. Nor does Father God.
I don't like it when my children are gossiped about. Nor does God.
I don't like it when my children are unrighteously judged. Nor does our heavenly Father.
I don't like it when my children are rejected. Nor does the Father of us all.
He hates it when we mess with His kids!
He wants this behaviour to stop.
It hurts His righteous soul.
He is extremely wearied by it. And worse.
I think I can sum up with this statement--that which I believe is the way He is feeling about it when His kids are dissed and criticised--
'YOU MESS WITH MY KIDS, YOU MESS WITH ME!
We are called to bless and not curse.
Let's get this right Whanau.