The Focus

So, I pray that this post is kind of what the question that I was asked about the other night. I also would like to spend the next few post dealing with this question and many layers that are underneath this discussion or idea.

So I was asked how can a person or group of people totally rely on God, in the midst of challenging and tough circumstances, stay humble without getting prideful and arrogant as God continually provides and meets the need each time?

I believe this is very challenging. When life is hard because of health problems, money situations, or life's bad breaks, a true believer in God must turn to Him in those times of need. This is where it must begin. First, let me say that God is in no way required to meet the need and provide sustenance for the person, but in His grace and mercy He can provide for the situation. But how can the person stay humble in the life that is continually carried by God through many dire needs?

I believe the first place the humility begins is in the focus of the person. When life gets us down and money runs out, do we focus on the need or do we focus on the God who meets the need? That is the first question that must be asked and the beginning of this discussion. When God is continually meeting the needs of His children, does the situation distract us from God or help us focus on God better? The answer should be that focus must be on God and not the situation. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice". (Philippians 4:4) Paul was not saying the person should rejoice in the provision of God or the need being met, he was telling the reader to rejoice in God. Rejoice, focus, and praise God. That is where it starts and that is where it must end. Finding the true happiness and joy in the Lord rather than in what He does while keeping the focus on God and not on what He is doing for us. The focus then is on God and not on what He is providing so that pride in what He continually is doing for us should not be. Pride in our God is what it should be. When the person in the situation or life that is being met has pride in God, it is humbling to understand who He is and why He cares for us enough to show us favor and grace.

So the first place to keep humble when God is providing again and again is to check where is the focus, the problem and provision or in the God who loves us. That is the first step in staying humble. I pray this starts to answer the question that has been raised.