Taking Advantage

ADV'ANTAGE, n.

1. Any state, condition, or circumstance, favorable to success, prosperity, interest, or reputation.

Over the coming few weeks Mom and I are going to be blogging a series of posts about people in the Bible who took advantage of moments in their lives that changed their lives.  We will also be highlighting people who didn’t take advantage of opportunities they were given and what the consequences were. 

We are beginning the second half of our year on the blog as we journey along to get to know God better and we want to take full advantage of these days to delve into His Word and study the examples He has given each one of us to follow.  Let’s begin with a man who failed to take advantage of humbleness.

Genesis 4:1-8

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Okay, here is a story that everyone, even the unsaved, knows or has at least heard about in their life.  The old story of Cain and Abel.  These boys had been raised by the same Dad and Mom.  They had heard the same instruction about how to live, yet one gets all twisted in pride and ends up killing the other.  Why?  Cain didn’t want to humble himself.  That is the gist of the entire plot.  Pride.

Cain had the opportunity to make things right with God.  God pointed out his error and Cain COULD have just agreed with God in that moment and the whole entire thing could have been over, but his pride kept him from an opportunity of growth.  His decision didn’t just effect his life, it ENDED Abel’s.  All because Cain couldn’t admit to wrong doing.  Pride, it is a relationship killer.

Only you know if there is a person you need to make things right with today.  Only you know if you have pride causing you harm today.  If the Holy Spirit is placing His convicting finger on your heart right now and bringing someone to mind that you need to make things right with, then why not take advantage of this moment and pick up the phone and call them.  Your heart just went cold didn’t it?  Fear is what the devil wants you to feel.  He is wanting to kill our relationships with one another and with God.  He wants us to swell up in pride and think, “NO!  That person should come to ME!  After all, THEY are the one who is wrong and done wrong!”  My friend, the glaring reality is that when we begin agreeing with the devil we are helping him kill our relationship with God and our relationship with another brother or sister in Christ.

Abel didn’t do anything wrong.  He did what was right.  And in verse 8 we see that Cain talked to him.  I wonder where in that conversation things went wrong?  We aren’t shown if Abel smarted off to Cain or what Cain said, we just know that it ended in tragedy.  Cain must not have had a humble heart.  Because even if Abel said something to Cain about Cain’s offering then Cain would still have been okay with it.

When you go and make things right with some people, you may find they don’t want to make things right with you.  Yes, it happens!  I can testify to it!  But THEY are not the reason you need to humble yourself.  God is.  He is the One seeing your heart.  The relationship between you and Him should be what matters most. 

Are you willing to take advantage of this moment today and humble yourself in front of God?  Can you see yourself how He sees you?  He loves you, and He also loves that person you are hating and think is the worst piece of misery on this earth.  He will deal with them, but that is not what you are to be worrying about, you need to worry about what HE, God, is dealing with you about right now. 

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

I realize that every situation is different and very complicated.  But God’s Word is clear on how to handle all of them.  You are not the first person going through what you are going through.  You are not the first person to feel like someone is unforgivable.  You are not the first person to be filled with pride.  But every single one of us can decide to take advantage of learning from the example of Cain.  Or we can end up in tragedy.  Pride only leads to destruction.  It never is taking you somewhere better.  Your spirit will become more bitter and more bitter until you are spreading your poison to everyone around you and more relationships are destroyed.  And the devil sits back, grins and checks off another Christian that he has fooled with pride.  Don’t let him win. 

If you want me to pray for you to have the courage to call or go to someone, just message me.  I will pray as you go.  But the best part is, you will be doing what God wants, 100%.  You will be taking advantage of the moment to restore your fellowship with the Lord and with someone else.  You can do it!

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri