Devotional Message

"Living with No!"

"There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth" Proverbs 13:7 (NASB)

When I had lost my job many years ago, I went back to school and I tried to setup a small business as an alternative income source. It seemed like a great idea at the time. I saw this ad in a magazine that talked about how people were getting rich overnight with this program. It seemed like a "can't miss" opportunity! All I had to do was pay the nominal price plus shipping and I'd soon be on my way to fame and fortune. I sent for the program that promised to divulge all the details that would make our dreams come true! I had been unemployed for a short while, but it seemed like an eternity to me. I couldn't wait for the package to arrive. I knew that my young family and I would not have to worry for money and that soon our troubles would be over!

I wanted to make sure the plan would succeed, and I began to put the matter in prayer. I explained to the Lord that we were running out of money and that we really needed for this to work for us. I told God that I would spend the money wisely and that I would even help people in need and that I wouldn't spend the money frivolously. Oh, I admitted that I might indulge myself in a whim or two, but I would not overdo things. I was patient as the days wore on because I saw each day as an opportunity to pray about the program. I figured that the more I prayed about it the more likely it would be to succeed!

The day finally arrived when the package came to my door. It seemed like an eternity, but I knew it would be worth it. I knew that this was a "can't miss" opportunity! The package came in a plain brown wrapper and I thought how ironic it was that something that could easily turn into a ton of money came in such a plain and simple wrapper. It came with a flyer that had what looked like a handwritten note that had been Xerox copied probably many times. It declared in bold red letters that the opportunity of a lifetime had finally arrived! It said that if I followed the program word for word that it would make me a lot of money very soon. It also stated that it was essential that I read and re-read every word several times and that I would soon be on my way to making millions of dollars!

The booklet seemed very small to me. I shrugged and said, "Oh well - big things come in small packages!" I read it and re-read it several times just as I was advised to do. In the end I sat there in disbelief! What this whole thing was about was to copy the little booklet and to sell it to others just like he did! The whole concept was to simply take advantage of people's misfortune and to make money off them. I was to simply put an ad in a paper or magazine and to tell people to buy the book and get rich! Apparently, this guy was making money by selling a small booklet not worth the paper it was printed on! When I got through the shock of disbelief, I began to feel disappointment setting in.

I couldn't believe that after all those prayers that God didn't answer my prayer and that I was no better off than before but instead has a lot less money in my wallet. I sat there for a time as my wife vacuumed the floor around me. I voiced my disbelief to her out loud and said, "I can't believe God didn't answer!" She patted me on the back as she went by and whispered in my ear, "He said no!" I felt she was being obnoxious but after a while I had to admit she was right. I felt like a fool but a little wiser. I stopped reading those get rich quick ads and cracked the books and completed my education. I didn't get rich, but I was certainly happier in the life God planned for me instead!

How often have you expected God to give you your heart's desire only to be disappointed afterwards? Did you think that it was His job to fulfill your every wish? As a parent I found myself telling my children "no". It wasn't because I wanted to disappoint them but because I wanted what was best for them. That's part of what good parenting is all about! God is indeed a good parent! Now I find myself telling my grandkids "no" too! The other day my daughter and son in law dropped off my granddaughter. My daughter told me firmly so that my granddaughter could hear her, "No treats for Jaedn - she didn't finish all her food!" After she left Jaedn sat quietly next to me and after a time asked, "What about some chocolate grandpa?" I said, "What did your mommy say?" She said, "Mommy isn't watching!" I said, "But God is!" She frowned a bit but then shrugged and walked off to play.

"God Said No"

I asked the Lord to make me rich

To fill my life with things

God said - You can't pay the price

Those worldly things can bring

Don't put your trust in riches

They'll rob you of your soul

The things your Father gives you

Are greater than fine gold

I asked the Lord to heal me

And to make my body mend

But God just kept me waiting

And then said no again

He said - It's when you're hurting

You draw Me close to you

But when you're feeling better

You find better things to do

Then I asked God for patience

And the blessings that it brings

God told me He's been working

On just this very thing

I watch you getting stronger

And see how much you've grown

And all of this has happened

Because I tell you no

J. Corrales