INCREASE OUR FAITH

"The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5 NIV).

 

As Christians, we can relate to the apostles' desire to have a greater abundance of faith.  During Jesus' ministry He often reproved them for their lack of faith because they failed to trust Him in the midst of difficult circumstances.  Things haven't changed much in 2000 years.  We still tend to think that we need to know what God intends for us from A to Z before we will accept that what He is doing is in our best interest.  The truth is: even if He would spell things out for us, and let us know His long-term goals for us, we would still too often not understand or submit meekly to His workmanship. 

 

I have had the opportunity to watch various blacksmiths as they applied their craft to crude bars of iron.  They first must cast the metal into a forge and heat it until it is white hot.  While it is still hot, they place it on their anvil and beat it with a sledge hammer.  Slowly, blow after blow, it is transformed into the pattern and shape that the blacksmith has in mind.  Often, as the piece cools, it must be cast back into the fire because it can only be shaped while it is hot.  This process reminds me of the work that God, the Master Blacksmith, must often employ in order to shape our crude nature into the glorious image of His own Son.  The forge and the hammer represent the trials that we often face in our lives, and though they are not subtle forces by any means, the father's eyes are always on His work and each blow is carefully placed.  How important it is for us to believe during this process and trust that all things do indeed work together for good to them who love God and who have been called to fulfill His divine purpose.

 

In response to the apostles' request for more faith, Jesus answered with two different statements.  First He said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you." (v.6).  While our faith may start out very small, it is still capable of some pretty extraordinary actions (like moving mulberry trees, or even mountains).  God, however, intends for it to grow just like every healthy seed will do.  In the case of the mustard seed, it eventually grows into a great tree.  Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word which God speaks to us, then our faith will just naturally grow if we continually expose ourselves to His Word.  It's like sunlight and water on a newly planted seed.  It nourishes the spiritual seeds that God has planted within us.

 

The second thing that Jesus said to the apostles concerning faith was a little more thought provoking: "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep.  Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?  Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?  Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?  So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’" (vs.7-10 NIV).  We are a generation that is accustomed to instant gratification.  We want our prayers answered now and our blessings delivered up in short order.  We often fall into the trap of thinking that if we have endured some hardship, then we deserve some kind of reward from God.  At the end of the day, though, we are servants.  We serve at the pleasure of the King of kings, and not the reverse.  The best servers are the ones who are constantly watching their tables to anticipate what is needed before they are asked.  They clear the plates and bowls as they are emptied, and fill the glasses before they are drained.  Likewise, we must learn to be attentive to the Lord's wishes, and place them above our own.

 

"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."  (James 5:10,11 KJV)  Job's example of faith is inspiring to be sure.  After all that he suffered, his answer was simply, "Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust in Him." (Job 13:15 KJV).

 

So, my take-away from all this is: 1) that our faith, even in its infancy, is very powerful.  2) As we feed from God's Word, our faith will grow stronger.  3) We must learn to be content in serving the Lord, and not form unreasonable expectations about when our service is "enough."   The ultimate reward of our service to the Lord is our eternal salvation.  Isn't that enough!