Are We Willing?
Every parent desires for their children to have the best in life. Although they may be limited in what they can currently provide them, the desire to provide it is still there. It is the same with God the Father. He tells us throughout His Word that His will is to bless His people. He brought the children of Israel out of Egypt into the land of Canaan. It was their promised land. God described it as one “flowing with milk and honey”. Sounds like a good land, doesn’t it? God tells us in Isaiah 1:19 that we also can eat the good of the land.
At this point, you might be asking the question: “what if I am not eating the good of the land?” This is a question we have all asked at some point in our lives. Maybe not in those same words, but in some way, we have expressed frustration over our financial circumstances. We get weary of having barely enough to live on, with nothing left over. Bills seem to keep coming and the money seems to keep going. So, if we are children of God and we believe in His Word that His will is for us is to “eat the good of the land”, then why is not happening for us?
The answer is found in the first part of the verse in Isaiah 1:19. “If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land”. Notice the word “if” in the verse. Our eating the good of the land is dependent upon us. God has vast resources at His disposal. He can provide anything and everything we could ever need or want! After all, He can create planets! If He can do that then He can pay our bills and provide enough left over so we can help others. It is not up to God alone for us to prosper, it is up to us as well.
So, what do we need to do? What is being willing and obedient? Aren’t they the same thing? Actually, they are not the same. Willingness in the Bible is defined as “being cheerfully compliant”. Willingness is an internal condition of our heart. Being cheerful reflects the willingness of our hearts. Obedience is compliance, but it may not necessarily be done from a willing heart. Obedience can be external only. For example, picture a child at home playing video games and being told by their parent to stop and go clean their room. The child may throw a fit and be upset. He or she may go pouting and fussing down the hall to their room and clean it and come out later still fuming. Was the child obedient? Yes, they cleaned the room. Were they willing to do it? Clearly not. They were compliant externally to the parent, but internally they were unwilling.
We can read Isaiah 1:19 this way: “If you be cheerfully compliant and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land”. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that “God loves a cheerful giver”. Have we ever brought our tithes and offerings to church, but didn’t cheerfully place it in the offering plate? God desires offerings to be given from our heart, not just our wallets. In Exodus 25:2 God said: “speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering”. Remember Cain’s offering? God did not receive it. Why? Cain’s heart was not right. He did not willingly offer what he brought.
Willingness, however, concerns more than just offerings. Are we willing to receive correction from a parent, boss, or our Pastor? Are we willing to do the work we are assigned on our jobs, without complaining and griping? Are we willing to love our spouse as Christ loved the church? Are we willing to do anything God asks us to do, even if it is not convenient for us? God is looking for willing hearts. He was willing to send His son Jesus into this world to save us. This one verse in Isaiah perfectly reveals to us why we are not “eating the good of the land”. God wants us to be obedient, but he also wants us to be cheerful while doing it. Why is willingness such a big deal to God? Because if you are not willing then the only thing left to be is unwilling and that is the very nature of rebellion. So, check up on your willingness. Ask God to reveal to you unwillingness in any area of your life. Make the adjustment inside and become willing. How will you know you when you are willing? When you are cheerfully obeying!
