Issue 877 – Doesn’t the Bible Say? – October 9, 2022
At first glance, this seems to be an image of a two-headed deer. The picture, shot at our former home in Clearwater, actually shows two deer standing side by side. A quick count of the legs can confirm that there are two deer.
Things are often not as they appear. Many popular sayings claim biblical origins but are not in the Bible.
God wants me to be happy.
God won’t give you more than you can handle.
Heaven gained another angel. Alternatively, “You become an angel when you die.”
God helps those who help themselves.
When God closes a door, He opens a window.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
I could list many more, but this sampling gives us an idea. These sayings sound spiritual, even biblical, but they are not from the Scriptures and represent questionable or very poor theology.
I often hear, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” That is entirely false and certainly doesn’t appear in the Bible.
If we expand it to say something like, “God won’t give you more than you can handle with His help,” you are getting closer.
If we could handle everything with our own strength, power and abilities, we wouldn’t need God. The truth is that we can’t resist temptation when left to our own devices. We yield to sin.
The Apostle Paul was a man well acquainted with trials and tribulations. God chose him to be an apostle to the Gentiles, but it came with a high cost.
What did Paul endure?
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
Honestly, I cannot imagine what all that might have been like. How did Paul endure all this? Was it by his own power? Of course not.
Paul tells the church in Philippi,
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13
God will give you more than you can handle… on your own. Praise His name that He is there to carry us through as we grow in Christlikeness.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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