A Cup Runneth Over Perspective
January 28, 2008
Dear Friends,
There are four kinds of people in the world. There are those who see the glass as half-full. There are those who see the glass as half-empty. The third group is those who see the glass as empty or through depression don’t even acknowledge the cup at all. Finally, the last group is those who see the glass full to the overflowing.
King David was one of these men in the last group. David said in the famous Psalm 23 “my cup runneth over.” David saw his life as full to the brim with God’s blessing. David wasn’t delusional. Glass half-empty and glass empty people think that you have to be delusional to be so positive. Yet, David acknowledged the dangers around him. He knew that he was walking through “the valley of the shadow of death” and that his enemies were around him – even at his own table. Yet, despite these things, David acknowledged through it all that “thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
If you know anything about David’s life, you know that he had his ups and downs. He was anointed king at a young age with no pedigree for the assignment. He was a war hero and favorite of King Saul. He was good-looking Renaissance man who could play music, compose poetry and sling a slingshot like no other. Yet, David had horrible days too. He lost several children. He had to flee for his life on several occasions. He had all of his family and possessions stolen by raiders and didn’t know if he would ever see them again.
It doesn’t take any faith at all to have a “cup runneth over day” when everything is going well for you. Everyone feels great when they get that longed for promotion or the birth of a healthy child or when we finally find that special someone in our life. Faith comes into play when we have a “cup runneth over day” on a day that for most people would be an “empty glass” day. These are the days when we need to recognize God’s presence the most. If we have a day like Job where we lose everything – I mean EVERYTHING – and can still rejoice because we have God, that is when we really have something. In that time, we have that peace which transcends all understanding.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:4-7 NIV)
Have a great week,
Comments»
This is a GREAT post Kyle! Right up there with Rom 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”.
Keeping all of this in mind makes it sooooo much easier to honestly be able to pray “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us”. As we will have no hate, frustration nor anger in us – just a warm acceptance that all is right with our world as it’s is all in God’s will, whatever we have to bear.
Of course it is totally our responsibility to help others – as you dear Brother have done right here – to see this point. What a wonderful and supportive brotherhood we could have if we could just accept and act on this.
And of course it starts with ourselves.
Colin Green Sydney, Australia
Are you implying that all believers who are healed when they pray have faith and those who are not healed of their diseases do not have faith?
Sis. Ruth:
Thank you for your question and pointing out a glaring hole in what I wrote.
When Paul was not healed of his thorn in the flesh it was not from lack of faith, it was so God’s power could be demonstrated in weakness. (see 2 Cor. 12) Paul knew that the Lord could remove that from him which is why he kept praying for its removal. Paul did have several major miracles performed in his life. However, if Paul didn’t believe, I don’t think they would have occurred. Faith is not a way to get what we want from God; it is a way to get what we need from God.
So, no, I do not think that people of faith will necessarily be healed while I do think that people without faith are at a serious disadvantage. That would be very close to the false reasoning of Job’s three friends, wouldn’t it? Sorry for not including some sort of disclaimer in what I originally wrote.
Grace and peace,
Kyle
Hey Kyle, just a quick question: what about when Jesus raised people from the dead? They could not have possibly believed that he would heal them because they had no conscious thought. I used to think that Jesus could only heal people if they believed that he could heal them. However when I tried to put that model into every healing instance it didn’t quite work. Especially when the people being healed were dead. Just wondering what your thoughts are.
-Jacob
Bro.Jacob-
Excellent question. One case I remember, Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5, it was not the dead girl’s faith that saved her, it was her father’s faith.
35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, ONLY BELIEVE.
So I guess that someone else’s faith may still create miracles in your life even though you are dead physically or spiritually. That is why we pray for people who don’t believe to believe and that God might work a miracle in their life.
Kyle
Hi Kyle,
What about Luke 7:14 when Jesus raised the young man? He simply SEEMS to have walked over to comfort the mother – there is no record of faith on anyone’s part but Jesus.
Also Matt 8:29 when he healed the two “demon-possessed” men? All they said was “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?†The “demons” DID say “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.†Almost as if the “demons” believed and the men didn’t! Strange and interesting passage…
Of course there may be more to the situations than the record shows. That is not too unusual in scripture.
Colin Green Sydney, Australia
Hey Colin-
I think you got me on the Widow of Nain’s son. Can’t find a shred of evidence of faith on anyone’s part prior to the miracle. The story seems to showcase the Lord’s compassion rather than faith. Perhaps there is a powerful lesson there. I bet they believed following the miracle!
As an aside, I think of the reunions of parents and children in the ressurrection when I read this parable. Imagine how thrilling to witness the people who had so mourned the loss of parents, children and spouses seeing one another again. Grandparents seeing grandchildren they never knew for the first time. I digress though.
The Legion story, as you pointed out, does have some evidence of faith. Amazingly, these two mentally ill men were one of the very few people that recognized Jesus as the son of God. Perhaps this is a commentary on who were the truly mentally ill. Who was more mentally ill, the two crazy men in the tombs or the Pharisees? I’d have to say the Pharisees. As Bro, Ken Roth (who works with homeless people) once told me, “we are all mentally ill, it is just a matter of degree.”
Grace and peace,
Kyle
Hi Kyle,
I think that there IS more to it and thanks for bringing us to that. Our readings today (3 Mark) has Jesus approaching the man with the withered hand and healing him. Nothing said of faith here either. But He does it to make a point to the Pharisees – and as an act of love and kindness to the man. So yes, I think you are right – this showcases the Lord’s compassion.
Also, we often don’t actually know surounding environment – there may have been more to it than this. There MAY have been faith involved.
On your “other” topic of reunion at ressurrection. Is this right? WILL we actually see and know our loved ones? I wonder… The tale of the woman that had the seven husbands and they tried to trap Him – who’s wife would she be? Jesus’ answer ““You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels £of God in heaven”. So no husbands/wives. So why less important relationships? Again to Mark 3 “Who are My mother and My brothers? For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother”.
Luke 13:28 Indicates there will be recognition – but maybe not of our loved ones? “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God…” But recognition of these special people. I don’t recall of those we know.
Just my musings.
Colin Green Sydney, Australia