“For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Genesis 41:52 NKJV) [1]
In the downtown area there are some beautiful flowers. Some have been planted to beautify the town but some of the prettiest are growing around the bottom of a telephone pole in a parking lot. There may be some dirt but it is mostly gravel. Creosote which is used to preserve wooden telephone poles has drained down and run into the rocks but the flowers thrive. Someone liked them so much they took some home. They found some good fertile ground and replanted them. They watered them and babied them but they died. They could not stand what we think would be great for them.
The same thing can be true with Christians also. Some think they are in terrible situations and some are in these situations but what might happen if they got in better situations? C. H. Spurgeon wrote:
“When rich and increased with goods, many professors carry their heads much too loftily and speak much too boastfully. Like David, they boast: “?My mountain stands fast; it will never be moved.?” (See ?Psalm 30:6-7?.)
“When the Christian grows wealthy, is in good repute, and has good health and a happy family, he too often wanders away.” [2]
The Christian can get the idea that he doesn’t need God after he has it made. Sometimes he might just be doing so well he is too busy for a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have known and heard of this happening to Christians. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with being well off and that everyone ought to be poor. I think we need to be just where God wants us. We need to be fruitful where we are planted. We need to be able to say with the apostle Paul:
“For I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.” (Philippians 4:11-13 NLT) [3]
By Dean W. Masters