Word of Encouragement (8/13/2020)
The next two categories of divine promises we will consider are principal and less principal.
“Principal promises are spiritual and therefore are of the greatest concern. They include the promise of righteousness (Rom. 4:5) and the remission of sins (1 John 1:9). Less principal promises are temporal and include promises such as deliverance from affliction, safety in danger, health, and wealth” (pp. 5-6). This distinction shows that there is a hierarchy, or order, of sorts in God’s promises. We can see the logic behind it. “Spiritual” blessings are eternal and imperishable whereas “temporal” blessings are temporary and perishable. So, Peter blesses God that He caused us to be born again “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). Obviously, he is speaking of the superiority of the inheritance we have in Jesus Christ to the inheritance that the Jews received in the land of Canaan, which was perishable, corruptible, and fading. That is why Paul, after speaking of what he used to boast of as a Jew and Pharisee (Phil. 3:5-6), declared, “[I have] counted them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God…” (Phil. 3:8-9).
This is something that Jesus affirmed as well: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:31-33). Jesus is not saying that God doesn’t care about our temporal, physical needs: “your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” But God has to remind us that there are things of greater value, which God wants us to enjoy because He loves us too much to have us settle for the second best. After all, “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut. 8:3).
How do you view God’s promises? Have you accepted the order God established between His principal promises and less principal promises? If we go against this order, we will be confused and frustrated. If we accept it, we will have a better grasp of what God is doing in our lives, especially when difficult times come. God's promises include "deliverance from affliction, safety in danger, health, and wealth" so we should be encouraged to pray for such things. But God may withhold them from us for a time because He wants to grant, or increase, the principal blessings in our lives. So, let us not be discouraged. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). But we must all confess that, even in material, temporal blessings, God has been so generous, has He not? We have so much to be thankful for.