Quality-Benefit Analysis

UV 1394/10,000 Quality-Benefit Analysis
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Romans 4 v 20

When we look to the promise of God with faith, we become spiritually strengthened. When we listen to the Word of God, we are greatly strengthened in the inner man. The Word supplies all the nutrients that our faith needs. Abraham believed the promise of God that he would be the father of nations. He did not doubt the promise. He did not waver or disbelieve God or think that it is difficult for God to fulfil His promise. He gave glory to God ahead of time, even before he saw the confirmation of the promise that Sarah, his wife who had passed the age of child bearing, would bear him a son. Abraham did not stagger but he took firm steps based on the promises he received from God. He took a firm step to leave his native place in Ur to faraway Canaan based on the promise of God to him that He would bless him and make him a blessing. Step by step, Abraham appropriated various blessings of the Lord. He did not allow doubt or hesitation or fear to become a stumbling block or barrier in his relationship with the Lord.

When we praise the Lord, saying every single day, “ Blessing, honour, glory, power, thanksgiving, riches and wisdom be unto our Lord”, our faith is strengthened. Our mouths should only utter words of positive confession of faith and not doubt, fear or weakness. Our thoughts too must echo the greatness and goodness of the Lord. We should persist in prayer and the Lord will reward our persistence. The Lord asked us in a time of prayer to “write and pray.” When we write our prayer requests, it becomes a record to strengthen our faith when the prayer is answered and the promise is fulfilled. In business and economics, people do “cost-benefit analysis” to justify a particular decision or plan. In matters of faith, we need to do “quality –benefit analysis.” The cost has been fully paid by the perfect offering of Jesus. It is no longer a factor but something we should be thankful for. If we exercise a good quality of our faith, then we would see or reap the benefits. The promises of God contain a variety of benefits or blessings for our spirit, minds and bodies. The quality of our faith and our response to these promises will determine the type of benefit and the extent to which we receive it.

Moses did not demonstrate as much faith as Abraham. When the Lord told Moses that he had heard the complaints of the people that they had only eaten manna and had not eaten meat, that He would ensure they ate meat for a whole month, Moses said that even if He would kill all the cattle or gather the fish of the sea, it was not sufficient to do so. He did not think it was possible to feed 600,000 men, women and children with meat for a whole month. But time and again, God proved that nothing was impossible or too difficult for Him. The Lord said, “ Do you think that my arm is too short?” The Lord’s arm is sufficient and able to do all that He has promised us. He is challenged only by our lack of faith, our negative thoughts and words. Repeatedly, He exhorted the leaders of Israel like Joshua to be strong in their faith, not to entertain doubts about the willingness or ability of God to fulfil His promises. Praising and thanking God before time or before we see or experience the fulfilment of His promises paves the way for the Lord to act.


Prateep V Philip