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PROGRAM D-8218
I am exploring the topic of Kingdom equity—those investments God has made in our lives that he wants us to use to do the good works he planned for us to do. Kingdom equity comes in the form of our gifts, abilities, and talents. However, it also comes in another form, too, and that is this:
Kingdom Equity of Suffering and Failure
We don’t usually think of the difficult things in our lives as investments, do we? Can it be true that the hard things you’ve gone through, the difficulties you’ve encountered, the heartaches you’ve known—even your sins and failures—can be seen as God’s investment in you? How can that be Kingdom equity?
The truth is that it is often these hard things that drive us to know God, keep us humble, show us our total inadequacy, and force us to depend on God. God is never the author of evil, but he has this marvelous way of turning what someone meant to us for harm into something that he uses for good, as he did with Joseph. They include things such as the following:
- Childhood experiences. If you were deprived of what you needed as a child—love, protection, security, safety, any of the basics—and, instead, you endured some suffering—that is Kingdom equity.
- Health issues. Maybe you’ve faced some real health fears—that is Kingdom equity.
- Financial hardships. You’ve lost a job, and you’ve faced month-ends without enough money to pay your bills—that is Kingdom equity.
- Broken relationships. Your marriage that fell apart, or that friend or family member who is estranged or distant from you—again, Kingdom equity.
- Disappointments in people. Your adult child who has left the church and the truths you taught him or her about God. Your friend who betrayed you. Your boss who fired you—more Kingdom equity.
- Significant losses. Your parent who died—or mate, child, or close friend—Kingdom equity.
- Sins from your past. Yes, even those things of which you are ashamed, those times when you chose to live in sin and stray far from God—Kingdom equity.
All of these are Kingdom equity that God wants to use for good in your life. That means that none of these things are meaningless. God doesn’t waste anything—not even sorrows and heartaches