Who God Uses

Over the years that I’ve been in the Land of Internet, I’ve seen several different versions of a story go around, that many of you have also probably seen. It’s the story of a man, who, during a flood, is stranded on the roof of his house. He prays for God to save him, and believes God will. After a while, a boat comes by and asks if the man needs help. He says, “No, God will save me.” And sends them on their way. After a while, a helicopter comes and tries to save the man, but he turns them down saying, “No, God will save me.” But after a while, the flood waters rose and he drowned. When he arrived in heaven, he said, “God, why didn’t you save me?” And God said, “I sent a boat and a helicopter.”

I’d like to confess right now that I’ve never been particularly good at asking for help. It’s just not one of my best things. It simply comes down to two things – pride (what will they think if they realize I need help?) and fear (will they reject me once they realize I need help?).

But I also have to confess that even when help is offered to me, I’m not good at accepting it. For the same reasons. But also, for one more – I feel I don’t deserve help.

And because asking for help and receiving help are both so difficult for me, running into the topic in this week’s chapter of our Sorge reading was not really something that I was prepared for. In fact, it made me rather angry. Especially when I read Sorge’s take on it.

“Notice that when we turn to worldly resources for help in areas in which God wants to be our provider, we don’t just miss out on the blessing of God’s provision. We also incur a curse over our lives. Hear the heart of your Father: ‘Don’t look to the world for counsel, or for help, or for resources. Look to Me! I want to be your Everything!’”

Let me start by talking about the parts of this that I agree with – God is our provider. Everything we have – from our breath to our intellect to our daily bread – come from Him. And we need to recognize that, and be grateful for it. And I’ll be the first to raise my hand and admit that much of the time, I’m far more focused on the things I lack than on the many, many things that God has blessed me with.

But now, I have to take issue with Mr. Sorge. The way I read this chapter, Mr. Sorge is saying that our gentleman on the flooded rooftop was perfectly appropriate to not accept the help from the boat or the helicopter because that would be accepting help from “the world” as opposed to waiting on God Himself. The problem is, Mr. Sorge, that God doesn’t always help us wearing a Jesus costume. If I’m bleeding to death on an operating table, should I ask the surgeon if he’s a Christian before I let him operate? If I have a flat tire on the highway and AAA comes along to give me a hand, should I turn him away because he isn’t God? Of course not!

I’m sure I’m being too hard on poor Mr. Sorge. He’s merely trying to encourage his readers to make God their sole source – which, actually, is one of the ten commandments. But honestly, I felt that he tried too hard, and put far too many constraints on God in the writing of this chapter. He tells me that if I accept help from “the world” I “incur a curse” over my life. Does that mean that I’m under a curse because I allowed an unchurched family to take me in when I was homeless? Nonsense!

I spent so many years of my life being taught and believing that only people who go to church can be used of God. And what I’ve learned over the past several years is exactly the opposite. Many of the greatest, deepest, most touching blessings I’ve received have come through the hands and hearts of people who don’t hold Jesus’ hand when they walk. But God uses them anyway. And honestly, I believe that when they allow God to use them, He blesses them. I know that He blesses me through them. And I’m sorry if that’s something that Mr. Sorge doesn’t get to experience.

This post is part of a weekly book discussion on Bob Sorge’s book, “The Fire of Delayed Answers.” You do not have to read the book to chime in! Feel free to make yourself at home in the comments section! But if you have written a response to this week’s chapter, go drop by my co-facilitator, Jason Stasyszen’s place, and link up at the handy-dandy widget.