Equal Opportunities? (God Makes No Mistakes) https://bbiblenotes.runboard.com/t256 Runboard| Equal Opportunities? (God Makes No Mistakes) en-us Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:14:42 +0000 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:14:42 +0000 https://www.runboard.com/ rssfeeds_managingeditor@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds managing editor) rssfeeds_webmaster@runboard.com (Runboard.com RSS feeds webmaster) akBBS 60 Equal Opportunities? (God Makes No Mistakes)https://bbiblenotes.runboard.com/p373,from=rss#post373https://bbiblenotes.runboard.com/p373,from=rss#post373Equal Opportunities? (God Makes No Mistakes) Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Rom 14:4) God knows. He understands. He cares. BUT, He cannot be put into a man-made box. Please follow my reasoning just a little -- logic I think. Then, I will share three parables that I believe apply. To illustrate what I am talking about... Let me challenge an assumption that is often made by well-meaning people. I have heard quite a number of times: "Everyone has the same number of hours in a day" or similar assertions. While this is technically and mathematically true, it is NOT entirely true in a practical way. Let me explain. 1. NOT everyone requires the same number of hours of sleep. 2. NOT everyone has the same quality of physical health. 3. NOT everyone has the same number of years to live. 4. NOT everyone has the same number and type of opportunities. 5. NOT everyone has the same type of personality, same amount of knowledge and experience, and the same mental ability to "make the best" of the time they have. I realize that no one should make excuses, BUT, let us NOT judge one another, or even judge ourselves, with unjust judgment. In other words, God alone knows all about us and our opportunities. He has a plan for each of us and will hold us accountable for what we do with what HE has given us. One parable Jesus told was about the seed sown. The seed being the Word of God, fell some along the wayside, some on stony ground, some among the thorns, and some on good ground. That which fell on the good ground -- or upon receptive hearts -- brought forth, some thirty fold, some sixty fold, and some an hundred fold. So, we see differing levels of fruitfulness, but all the good ground was fruitful. Another parable Jesus told was about the servants who had been given talents. One was given ten talents -- do I really wish that one were me? not so much anymore! Another was given five talents. Lastly, a servant was given one talent. They all invested the talents (money, or resources), except he who had only the one talent, who went and HID the talent. When his master returned, he was held accountable NOT for ten or five talents, but for the ONE talent he had been given. Likewise, we should NOT be so concerned about all the talents, resources, money, abilities, and etc... that we have NOT been given! Let us concern ourselves with what we HAVE been given. Last but not least, let us remember the parable about the laborers who went to work for an agreed upon amount of money, but who came and labored at different times during the day -- thus working an unequal number of hours. Those who came latest, and worked the least amount of time, were paid the same as those who labored from the morning until the evening (all day long)! We should all rejoice in God's wisdom, justice, and love! When we cannot follow what His reasons are for what we experience, or when we cannot see the fairness or justice of His judgement, let us be amazed and wonder at his amazing grace and boundless love. He forgives and rewards those who turn to Him even after it seems their lives have been wasted.nondisclosed_email@example.com (OldWarrior)Sat, 25 Mar 2017 14:43:00 +0000