Isaiah 39:2. “And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.” BIG MISTAKE. Hold it! Stop! What are you doing?! That is a terrible mistake! All those things you are showing those people - Are the very things that someday they will come and take; There is coming on this nation another sequel. The very things that made this nation strong: Faith in God; fairness and justice - All these things that will soon be gone - Came as blessings from God – to take credit for it is very wrong.
I know – you wanted those people to know you are grateful - Gratitude to God does need to be shown. God certainly has in every way been faithful - But He is the One who all these things really own; What God entrusts to us we must carefully use In ways that bless and are consistent with Him. These strangers to God's grace will surely abuse God's things in order to bring profit to them.
Holy things are important no matter of what kind - Whether vessels of gold, of silver or of clay. As we serve God, it is up to us to find Uses for what He gave in His service each day. The value of the blessings that come from God - Are measured differently when they are sanctified. To us they are precious, but to people in the world - They are trophies of materialism to be prized.
When God chooses to allow us to use a gift - It is important that we always seek His will.
The One who gives can always from our hand lift - The blessings that presently our closets fill. It is a wise man who considers when God chooses to give - There is a reason He has trusted me thus. For His own purposes He wants me to have These things, that through me He might others bless.
“O Loving Father, for Thine own reasons, I have been given health, strength, a good vehicle, a home and all I need for living. I know this has all come as gifts from Thee and I thank Thee for them. Please let me know in what ways I can best use all these blessings for Thy glory. There are complications arising from government demands. Give Linda and me the understanding as to how to satisfy these requests. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”