An Open Hand - Not a Clenched Fist

Psalm 135:15-21

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.  They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them,  so do all who trust in them.  O house of Israel, bless the Lord!  O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!  O house of Levi, bless the Lord!  You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!   Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem!  Praise the Lord!”

We do not have idols today; do we?  I know of no one who bows down to a carved image, do you?  So, I ponder on what is our form of idols, and what is my form of an idol, and I was reminded of these words of Chuck Swindoll in a conversation he had with the late Corrie ten Boom, “Chuck, I’ve learned that we must hold everything loosely, because when I grip it tightly, it hurts when the Father pries my fingers loose and takes it from me.”

I cannot think of a better way to state why not to have a clenched fist on what God has blessed you with than this by Alistair Begg’s.  “Hold material goods and wealth on a flat palm and not in a clenched fist” is for our own good because clenched fists cannot receive what an open hand can. And if we don’t give, we miss the blessings that God desires to pour into our lap, running over. To see a need and do nothing about it is sin. Besides, it’s in our best interest to give so that we might receive back from God His great blessings.”

In my 78 years on planet earth, I’ve seen many clenched fist people and I’ve also been afflicted with the clenched fist of ownership.  But I’ve learned what Alistair Begg’s has said so well, and I’m way too selfish to not keep my hands open to receive God’s blessing, plus I’ve now experienced the joy of giving and the blessing it has brought to Jan and me.  I’ve also learned that only God’s mercy and grace can replace this idol of the clenched fist, but only when we are sick and tired of our greed and lust for the things of this world that the Psalmist is talking about.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice