The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-I, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 11."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

Where or how do you draw the line between leaving it to the Lord or taking care of the situation yourself?

Answer

Well, What is it? "Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition?" I guess, that’s a hard thing to do. To draw that line. I think, this would be it, maybe. You would give it to the Lord, and then you would do everything you could, short of compromise or loss of integrity or disobedience. For example, I might say, "Lord, I want a job" or "Lord, I want to pass this test." Right? I’m going to study and I’m going to leave it to you. Well, that’s fine, but, before you leave it to the Lord totally, you’d better put it in your head, right? So you work as hard as you can to get it in your head. But, you don’t cheat, right? In other words, I think, it’s that wonderful...I love that statement in the Old Testament where it says, “The sword of the Lord and Gideon.” That’s really good, isn’t it? The sword of the Lord and Gideon. I mean, I see a tremendous cooperation there. And, I know, in my own life, there are many things that I say, “Lord, I want you to do this.” I mean, I could say that about my sermons. I could sit in my office and say, “Lord, I want you to give me a good sermon, but if I just sit there and say that all week, I’m not going to have a thing to say. So, I have to commit myself to the discipline of preparing my heart to say it. But, I never want to get to the point where I am so committed to the goal that I push myself past the point of integrity or honesty, and I do that which is not right to gain men. Do you know what I am saying? I think, that it is very difficult to draw any other line than that. I think, like the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Paul literally just slugged it out, sweat it out, pushed and forced and worked himself to the bone to get the work done. All the while, he gave it to the Lord. But, he had to give every bit of effort in the process. But, short of doing that which was disobedient, self-willed or, you know, whatever.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
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