“Give and take is the way of the world. But when you give something with compassion and take something with gratitude, you are away from the world and nearer to the supreme power.” ~ Shunya
You have probably heard the scripture reference, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21 – CEB).” Do you give thanks to God for all that has been given and taken away? Does God get all the credit and blame for everything given and taken in your life? For example, you lose a parent, regardless of age or cause of death, was it God that took them, or was it merely part of the circle of life? It’s important how we view and receive the give and take that life dishes out because it does influence our relationship with God and the world.
Your view of what or who created the world we live in will determine how you experience the give and take that life delivers. If the world happened by chance, then give and take is merely another event in the stream of life due to a freak occurrence. On the other hand, if the world came into being by intelligent design, supreme intelligence, a Higher Power, or if you wish, God, then how do we make sense of what’s good and evil? If God created everything, then shouldn’t God be held accountable for the give and take in the world?
What if God did create everything, but evil is the by-product of free will? Meaning, God created life in God’s image, celestial beings (angels) and human beings, and gave each free will. If this is true, and angels and humans desired to be God themselves and exercise their free will accordingly, it makes sense why we live in a fallen world. Most of the take we witness in the world is a result of the fall, e.g., disease, accidents, murder, catastrophic storms, including physical and spiritual death.
God promised through the prophets and Jesus Christ Himself that the world as we know it would one day cease to exist and that the kingdom of God would one day be restored on earth as it is in heaven. For those who put their faith and future in the care of God, then one day we will experience an existence free of the give and take, free from pain and suffering, and free from the evil that exists in the present. Until then, God will provide everything we need to survive, and God’s promises will always materialize in our lives if we work for them. The give and take are inevitable, and we should thank God from the bottom of our hearts for the time we have with everything that is given and taken from our lives.
My Creator, thank You for the abundance I have received and enjoy today. I take it all for granted regularly; please forgive me. I realize that evil exists and that we live in a fallen world. I don’t understand it all, but I am no longer blaming you for the give and take in my life. Instead, I desire an attitude of gratitude for everything I have gained and lost in my life. Help me to have the heart and attitude of Job. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
Beautiful! Ty