Have you ever been stung by a wasp? It is a very painful and memorable experience. A man’s son noticed wasps flying in and out of the roof of their home and drew his father’s attention to it. A few days passed and a friend also commented to the man that the wasp nest near their front door needed dealing with. The man procrastinated and did not deal with the wasp nest. One morning, whilst watering his garden, he felt something land in his hair. He attempted to knock it off and discovered it was a wasp. The wasp stung him. The painful experience spurred him into action. He bought the necessary spray and dealt with the hazardous wasp nest near his front door. The solution was simple but it required action.
Experience may be the word we give to our mistakes. Do I have to be “stung by a wasp” in order for God to get my attention? God has placed us in a many membered Body. It behoves us to take heed when something is drawn to our attention that requires action on my part as a good steward.
Scripture has much to teach us regarding stewardship. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”, 1 Corinthians 4:2.
Yielding destroys the impetus of compulsion. If the man had dealt with the wasp nest earlier, he need not have been compelled to do so.
2 Peter 3:18 teaches “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ……” Growing in grace is an incremental journey. The grace of God is granted freely in abundance to each of us. God graciously meets us where we are but always wants to take us to higher ground on our journey with Him. Jesus’ words remind us: “….freely you have received. freely give”, Matthew 10:8. God’s grace is given us freely to enjoy, but He also expects us to be a channel of it to flow freely to others. Do I meet people graciously where they are at, or do I criticise them and withhold the gift of grace that was freely given to me? I will not grow in grace in this position, but judge and become hard hearted, evidenced by a lack of God’s peace and joy. Jesus makes the way of return possible when we find ourselves in this sorry state. As we humble ourselves to the Lord, repent and ask forgiveness, we find as we let go, His grace will flow once more.
Jesus said a tree will be known by its fruit. Only a deep connection with Him will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in us. John 15: 5 Jesus said: “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing”.
May we endeavour to restfully abide in Jesus, as we grow in the gift of His grace.