What Do You Want for Lunch?

Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Job 38
NT: John 16
W&W: Proverbs 3

Today’s Reflection:
Yesterday, I enjoyed a little humor along with my lovely wife Lana and my oldest daughter, the beautifully expectant Jenny. Lana wanted to know what I wanted for lunch, but I didn’t want to answer her until I knew what my options were. Invariably, Lana knows what she wants me to have, something that fits that infamous category of things that “need to be eaten” or that is not in that other category of things we are “saving for supper.” So, if I don’t get it right, I have to keep wanting something different until I want what I can have! We laughed because Jenny does the same thing to Eric. Our lovely wives ask us what we want, knowing what they want us to want. I like to eliminate the middle steps and get all the information before I make my decision.

In many other areas, however, we try to make decisions without full knowledge. Our Old Testament reading today is the beginning of God’s reply to Job after Job has voiced his complaint about the unfairness of life. Given what Job had gone through, it was a reasonable complaint. In his reply to Job, however, God indicated that Job lacked knowledge. He was arriving at a conclusion without all the information: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” (Job 38.2) God was simply saying: Job, you don’t have all the information!

It is hard to make right conclusions without all the information, isn’t it? Yet how often we conclude things about God and life without the benefit of full understanding. When we do so, we invariably arrive at faulty conclusions and lead ourselves toward anguish (as did Job) or arrogance (as did Job’s friends).

Incomplete information is a fact of life. The Bible says “For now we see through a glass, darkly” (1 Corinthians 13.12, KJV). But, we don’t have to feel helpless. We can ask God for wisdom, and he gives it generously, without finding fault (James 1.5). Remember to ask though, for we have not because we ask not!

Pray with me this morning: “Oh God, counsel me with your knowledge. Give me your light and understanding!”

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
1 John 1.2: The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.