We’re Depending on You

We are depending on you. But that means something different for each one of us.

I’m depending on you to help me with my work. He’s depending on you to make him feel better about himself. She needs you to pay her on time so she can pay them on time. He needs $5 to get some gas because he is on his way to Florida to see his son, who’s having surgery, but he ran out of money (or, he needs some beer, but it’s hard to tell). She needs for you not to have a problem with your debit card while you pay for your groceries because she’s already late for something someone is depending on her to do…

What do you really owe any of us, though? How many of our expectations did you set, and how many are just demands we make because you keep paying off? What is the balance between the demands made by people with whom you have a covenant and people who ran out of money on their way to their next drink or smoke?

Your Shepherd gives you more than enough resources to do what He has placed you to do. People who are afraid of being condemned by someone who places a demand they won’t meet usually have more dependents than resources. People who are afraid they won’t have enough if they are generous usually have more resources than dependents. People who are insanely generous usually end up like the son who wasted his inheritance and had to get a dirty job.

Listen to the Spirit every time anyone asks for anything. Especially if they are demanding or manipulative. Even if you have the time or the money or the space to spare. You may have it for the next person who asks. Someone else may have what the first person needs.

Ask Him. Then trust Him. Then obey Him.