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The Lord gives and the Lord takes away? (By Barry Bennett)
Most Christians should know that God did not make this statement. Nevertheless, many of God’s children quote it more frequently than any other verse in the Bible. The book of Job has become more important than the four gospels for many. Identifying with Job’s sufferings seems to bring comfort for some reason.
The truth of the matter is that God gives and the devil takes away. Jesus declared that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came that we might have abundant life! (John 10:10) Once again, those who witness or experience loss and tragedy want to feel justified and affirmed in their experience. What better way than to blame God?
In order to move from darkness to light we must have a revelation of the new creation and the better covenant established on better promises (Heb. 8:6). Our covenant is not based upon behavior, but rather on Jesus redemptive work on the cross. God gave Jesus to the world in order that death might not steal, kill and destroy us.
God has always been the giver. He cannot be tempted with evil nor does He tempt any with evil (James 1:13). Every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). All of His promises are yes and amen (2 Cor. 1:20). It is His divine promises that allow us to escape the corruption of the world (2 Pet. 1:2-4). He gave us His Son and has determined to freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32). The Spirit of God abides in us that we might know the things that He has freely given us (1 Cor. 2:12). If we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, everything we need will be added to us (Mt. 6:33).
The list could go on and on. The point is, God is NOT THE THIEF! God is for us and His promises are alive and active. The only thing standing between us and abundant life is our gospel of clichés that promotes fatalism and passivity. Rather than learning to reign in life, many are content to say “whatever will be, will be.”
All of the other posts dealing with cliches in the comments section are also written by Barry Bennett.
One of the most horrible answers to evil and suffering in the world is that “God allows it.” Once again, God is the perpetrator or an accessory to crimes against humanity. Such a belief system effectively challenges the justice system of any civilized society. If God allows evil, what right do we have to punish evil doers? That which God allows for His own divine purposes should be celebrated, not criminalized. For some reason, nonsense makes sense to some religious minds.
The truth is that God did NOT allow sin and evil into the earth. Man allowed it. God created man in His own image and gave man the power to make choices. Everything God created was good. There was no sin, no death, no sickness, no war, no natural disasters and no suffering in God’s creation. God specifically told Adam and Eve to NOT eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He did not allow evil.
We must understand that the nature of God is good. Good has one Source; God. Evil is the absence of good. Evil is the consequence of independence from God. It was never God’s will that His creation live independently from Him. Jesus declared that He could do nothing except what He received from His Father (Jn. 5:19). He is our pattern. If we don’t abide in the Vine, we are cooperating with the consequences of independence, i.e., corruption.
Sin entered the world through man, not through God (Rom. 5:12). What God allows is for man to choose dependence upon Him and live. If man chooses darkness and death, God will respect that decision, but He is not responsible for the heartache and suffering that will come from such decisions.
God does not allow evil. He allows man to choose dependence or independence and He will respect those decisions. Evil is man’s fault, not God’s.
A typical response to bad things happening is that they “happen for a reason.” Once again, the believer who says such things is revealing a glaring lack of understanding as to how the Kingdom works, and how the world works. There is a default belief system in many that rests in the idea of a cosmic, divine influence over the earth that mysteriously is bringing about God’s divine will through the catastrophes that happen in the world.
The Bible declares that things happen according to the spiritual law of sowing and reaping. If we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit, we will reap life (Gal. 6:8). Coupled with the understanding that the whole world lies in wickedness and that the earth is reeling from the corruption of sin (1 Jn. 5:19, Rom. 8:21-22), we must add the reality of men separated from God, chasing after their own flesh.
The works of the flesh described in Gal. 5:19-21, are the reasons that many things happen. Adultery, fornication murders, drunkenness, hatred, etc., are inherently evil and almost always are the root of more bad things. One reason so many bad things happen is the lust of the flesh. God is not involved.
Another reason is that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Ignorance of God’s ways is a major reason as to why bad things happen.
Simply believing that there is a divine purpose in anything that happens in the earth is basically fatalism, which allows those who believe that way to place all responsibility and guilt on God while ignoring their own possible role (or the actions of others) in the chain of events that brought forth disaster.
This is a typical response by many Christians to any event in the world that seems tragic or incomprehensible. It is meant to convey that while world events, tragedies, sicknesses and death may be mysterious to us, we can take comfort because God has everything under control.
This is a fundamental misunderstanding that leads to fatalism, passivity and a wrong view of God. I would suggest that God has everything under control in heaven/new heaven, new earth, because everyone and everything will be fully submitted to Him. On this earth, however, we see corruption, death, tragedy and darkness. God is not controlling these things.
Why do we glibly declare that God is in control, but He doesn’t even control us who claim to be filled with His Spirit? Does God make you obey the law, pay your taxes, drive the speed limit and deny the flesh? And yet we are to believe that God has “everything else” under control?
God gave the earth to man (Gen. 1:26-28, Ps. 115:16, Ps. 8:4-6). This truth is the foundation of understanding the nature of God, the nature of man and the purpose of redemption. Man was created in God’s image and created to have dominion over God’s creation. Sin separated man from God’s life and purpose and left the earth under the dominion of Satan (2 Cor. 4:4, 1 Jn. 5:19).
To suggest that God controls all things places full responsibility for sickness, death, tragedies, wars, natural disasters, child abuse and every other evil in His lap. It makes God the perpetrator of human suffering.
When we get the revelation that God gave dominion to man, we can begin to cooperate with His purposes in the earth. We are called to reign in life! (Rom. 5:17) We are called to still the storms, heal the sick, cast out demons and extend the Kingdom (Jn. 14:12). We aren’t called to sit back and respond with clichés to the suffering around us or in our own lives. It is time to submit to the true knowledge of God, resist Satan, sin and corruption and reign in life! (James 4:7)
How often have we been exhorted that if we only had a tiny bit of faith like a mustard seed, that is all we need? This has bothered me for years because I see so many with “little faith” and big problems. Was Jesus extolling the virtues and potential of tiny faith?
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. (Luke 17:6)
Let’s consider some other events in the ministry of Jesus that may clear up this mystery. The disciples were in the boat with Jesus. He was asleep and they were terrified of the raging storm. They finally had to awaken Him so that He could fully appreciate the danger and their fear.
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Mt. 8:26)
The phrase “little faith” was used in a negative way, not a positive way. Jesus was pointing out the size of their fear versus the size of their faith. What happened to the mustard seed?
Peter took a giant step of faith out of the boat in order to walk on water toward Jesus. However, he took his focus off of Jesus and put it on the wind and the waves. No doubt he felt he could walk on water if it was calm, but the storm was too much. He began to sink.
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt. 14:31)
Again, Jesus rebuked little faith. Even though Peter had walked a few steps on water, fear overcame his faith. Wasn’t little faith enough?
In another instance the disciples had forgotten to bring bread on their journey with Jesus.
But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? (Mt. 16:8)
Again, little faith is not being exalted as being enough. In each case little faith is a negative.
Then, what about the mustard seed of faith. Let’s read it again.
So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. (Luke 17:6)
Did you see it? Jesus wasn’t explaining the power of little faith. He was explaining how faith works! If you have faith as a seed, you can speak to obstacles and they will obey you. It isn’t the size of the faith that is being discussed here. It is “how faith works” that is being discussed. Faith is like a seed. IT MUST BE SOWN. Seed faith speaks. Faith is sown by speaking! “I believe, therefore I speak” (2 Cor. 4:13). With this in mind, grab your Bible and read Mark 11:23. THAT is seed faith in action.
Little faith cries out in fear, discusses the problem and panics. Seed faith sows words of authority into the environment. Don’t be a victim of little faith. Sow your faith by speaking God’s Word into every circumstance. That is where the power is!
The mother of all clichés might be this one. The idea is that God is mysterious and we are simple pawns in His celestial game. What right do we have to understand anything? He has it all under control. Everything happens for a reason. He allows evil. He gives and takes away, and, just to make sure that we wash our hands of all responsibility we declare, “He moves in mysterious ways.”
Nevertheless, Jesus made it clear that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father (Jn. 14:9). Jesus is God in the flesh. His words and actions perfectly reveal the Father. There is no more mystery! If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. He went about doing good and healing all because God was with Him (Acts 10:38). Where God is, goodness and healing exist.
The mystery actually resides in the hearts of those who have chosen ignorance and fatalism. They have refused to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom. 12:2). They have not sought out wisdom and spiritual understanding (Eph. 1:17-18). The thought of accepting the responsibility for reigning in life overwhelms them. Living by clichés is much easier.
Your expectations in life will follow your core beliefs. If you believe that God is schizophrenic and mysterious, you should expect a life of questions and loss. Clichés will be your only solution. When you understand that God has given you His Name, His blood, His Spirit, His Word, His better Covenant, His promises, His armor, His faith and the keys to His kingdom, you will begin to cooperate with Him and enforce His will in your life.
It is time to expect God’s blessings in your life. It is time to expect to do God’s works. It is time to resist the enemy. It is time to walk in your divine authority over the enemy, sickness and loss. Drop the clichés and get to know God. He has given you dominion. Don’t give it to the devil!