By Rebecca Merrill Groothuis (1954-2018)
We have the unhappy tendency to cherish the gifts God gives us in a far deeper and different way than God does. We are horrified at the thought that any of our precious talents might go to waste. But God would—and frequently does—sacrifice the talents he has given us in order that our hearts may be formed by him. When God’s gifts get in the way of God’s work, God counts the gifts as dispensable for the sake of the work he desires to do in the one whom he has gifted. God regards the work he accomplishes in us as far more important than the work he accomplishes through us.
Some highly gifted Christians with weak character seem to go from strength to strength, while others whose hearts are sincere in seeking God are denied the fulfilling use of their gifts and are plunged instead into a seemingly endless round of fiery trials. Why is this? Perhaps those in the former category are so insincere and self-seeking that they succeed because Satan sees little threat in them and God sees little point in them; so they proceed apace unhindered by either the devil’s resistance or God’s discipline. Or perhaps those in this category have yet to encounter the blazing, purifying, relentless love of God, and their time will yet come. For it is the ones whom God loves that he disciplines and refines until their outward “ministering” demeanor truly reflects the inward state of their heart. Perhaps this explains the seemingly harsh and unfair experiences of those in the latter group of the fiery trials and the sacrificed talents. First and foremost, God wants these saints of his to be wholly his, that they may be conformed to the image of Christ. God also desires that the gifts he gives be used to glorify him; but that is a secondary goal, readily sacrificed, if need be, for the sake of the first priority.
In other words, from God’s perspective, the fruits of the spirit are more to be valued and cherished than the gifts of the Spirit. We, however, see the matter differently. A supposed Christian can be utterly lacking in any evidence of the “private” virtues (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.), yet be highly honored, admired, and financially remunerated for his or her public gifts. Yet a Christian in whom God has developed the fruits of the Spirit will not become renowned or rich on account of such, but only if he or she also possesses, and is given the opportunity to exercise, one or more of the much-admired public gifts of the Spirit.
Although the fruits of the Spirit may at times be developed at the expense of the gifts, and at a high cost in suffering and perceived deprivation, this should not lead those who desire God’s sanctifying work to desire suffering and assorted fiery trials as though they were some mark of spiritual honor or special blessing. Nor should we be resigned to suffering as purely and simply the hand of God at work in our lives, to which we must unequivocally submit. May it never be! To the extent that suffering is the work of the enemy, and is accomplishing the purpose of the enemy, it should be resisted. But suffering—even affliction from Satan—is allowed by God for a purpose, and God’s purpose must be embraced, even if it entails a long, bruising journey through the pain rather than a quick, miraculous deliverance from it. Satan’s purpose for afflicting God’s people, however, is always antithetical to God’s purpose.
We can’t always know God’s purpose in allowing suffering, but one thing we do know is he wants us to learn how to resist the purpose of Satan’s assaults against us—which purpose is always to turn us against—or way from—our Lord, who is the only hope for our deliverance. It seems far more natural during these times, however, to give ourselves over to the enemy’s purpose, for this is the way of “the flesh.” The godly response to suffering is not so easy either to discern or to achieve, and for this we need the help of the Holy Spirit. As we accept God’s purpose for allowing our suffering we must not neglect prayerful and determined resistance to Satan’s purpose in afflicting us. To the extent that we can spiritually discern what those antithetical purposes are, we can be more effective and intentional in resisting the devil and submitting to God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the end of God’s ultimate glory through his work in our souls.
In all that we pray and do in obedience to God’s will and purpose for our lives, we must remember that faith doesn’t come with any guaranteed results. But whether the faithful are sawn asunder or raised from the dead (Hebrews 11), whether we stay in the body or go home to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5), it is our faith that pleases God, and pleasing God is our richest reward. It should also be our deepest desire. So let us remember that the results of our faithfulness and obedience are in God’s hands, not ours. We must take responsibility for accomplishing—or for failing to accomplish—what only God can do.
· Rebecca Merrill Groothuis was the author of Women Caught in the Conflict (Wipf and Stock reprint, 1997) and Good News for Women (Baker, 1997).
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