EVERYTHING
This word doesn’t leave options on the table and it doesn’t have exceptions. Everything is the total with nothing else left – ALL. It’s hard for me to grasp this concept, because I live in a world of options, exceptions and exemptions. There are not asterisks (*) by the word everything; it all encompassing and complete. I’m sure I’ve described that something or someone is “everything to me” that is simply not true. There are people who say this in relationships, business situations and quite frankly it is not true. Life does move on after a broken relationship and another job or business opportunity comes along after one fails. Everything is such an all-encompassing word, I think I need to be careful how and when I use it.
Solomon has written some of the Psalms and I came across one that he wrote, evidently shortly after he was king. He prayed some bold and audacious prayers for God to lead and provide for him. He then ended with an “everything” statement that I can take hold of. Check this out…
18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72:18-19 NIV)
I don’t see the word “everything” in this passage, but it certainly settled in my heart after reading the whole passage. Solomon wants to be a strong king and a great leader. He prays boldly and asked God to bless him. He wants to live longer than the sun and do these noble accomplishments, but he ends this passage with profound perspective. God alone, does marvelous deeds. Solomon is nothing without the Lord. Solomon can do nothing without the Lord. God oversees everything. Nothing escapes His notice.
I started taking this passage personal because I want to be a strong and capable leader. I want to bring blessings to others. I want to serve the Lord by serving others. I really want the Lord to be my EVERYTHING. I want to notice that He blessed me with my wife and children. He blessed me with amazing co-workers and partners. He blessed me with EVERYTHING I have, know, experienced or have seen. With Him, I have EVERYTHING, but without Him, I am nothing.
Pressing On!
Dwayne