beyond Worry and denial

Scripture passage that caught my attention today: Numbers 24:10-14 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now be off with you! Go home! I said, ‘I will reward you richly,’ but the LORD has denied you any reward.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will; what the LORD says, that is what I will say’? 14 So now, I am going to my people; let me advise you what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

Observation: Balak worried so much that, it seems, some of his worries came to fruition.

Application: Two of yesterday’s lessons in church were largely about trusting in God and, therefore, not succumbing to worry. The lesson above pretty much exposes the worries of Balak. He’s heard the bad news and now somehow mistakenly thinks that he can get someone else (in this case Balaam) to suddenly give him good news.

It would be like a person who has been positively diagnosed with cancer desperately trying to find another doctor to simply declare that he or she does not have cancer. Precious time for possible treatment or even dealing with reality is lost while one blindly gropes around in denial. Worry and denial are two sides of the same worthless coin.

There must be a better way…

Prayer: Lord, there is much we could worry about in this world. But we—and you—would be better served if we simply reflected your authentic love for this world and the people in it. Help us to focus more and more of our attention in that regard. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture readings today included: Numbers 24-27 and 1 Corinthians 13)