Ears To Hear # 60

I’M NOT TOO PROUD
TO BEG
(I’m not too proud to Ask)

         As I write to you before I catch the plane today, the Lord reminds me to assure each other that He loves us all very much. And often, we must remind each other.
         When the Holy Spirit gives us a different way to look at old sayings, He has a reason. Each of us must decide for ourselves what that purpose is.

WHEN WE ADMIT

         What happens when we admit that we are not too proud to beg? You had probably rather use the word “ask”, but there is a lesson to be learned about beggars.
         It’s an awesome concept because we have been taught that God must be like the world and that He hates beggars. We have learned to pray His Word boldly, stirring up our faith (often in ourselves). We have been told to come boldly to the throne of God because Christ has made us worthy. We are taught to walk above shame and hold our heads high because we have been redeemed.
         Yet, are there times you still hear your spirit saying almost spontaneously, without condemnation, “Please Lord!  I really need Your help. Please help me. Please.”?
         You try to shut it up because you have the same opinion of beggars as the world does. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t look down on yourself when you see yourself as one: when you hear yourself begging.

DID JESUS HATE BEGGARS?

         How many beggars in the Bible do we read stories about Jesus and the disciples helping? They were people who knew they couldn’t help themselves.
         David’s prayers in the Psalms sound like the words of a beggar. (Psalms 109:21,22,31).
         How does the dictionary define “beg” and “beggar”? Beggar – somebody who begs for money or food from strangers. Beg - Ask with emotion: something in a very intense, humble, or even in a humiliating way.

POSTURE OF A BEGGAR

         Did the woman with the Alabastor box, who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, have the posture of a beggar? Did Jesus have the posture of a beggar as He washed the feet of His disciples? (Luke 7:37,38).

THE KEY WORD IS “PRIDE”

         The key word in this lesson is “Pride”. Are we too proud to beg? Or do we accept our limits and are not ashamed to say as David did in Psalms 109:21-22. 
         “But, do Thou for me, O God the Lord, for Thy Mercy’s sake, because Thy Mercy is good, deliver thou me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.”
         David knew God heard his prayers and he wasn’t ashamed to beg.
         Somewhere in this message, we can recognize our need for humility. We recognize our honesty before God. Sometimes, it’s okay with God for us to beg.
         It means He has something to give when we feel like we cannot. It is recognizing His All Sufficiency in All things. It is a heart matter.

HUMILITY

         Humility is not a posture before men, but a position before God.
         Yes, God has given us all things. And we understand that He abides in us, and in most cases, we do not have to beg. We just receive by faith (in Him) all the things He has provided for us by His Love.
         So, when you hear a sweet, unexpected prayer come from your child-like spirit, saying, “Please help me, Lord. Please.”, don’t think that God will ignore your prayer, considering you a beggar as the world sees beggars.
         You are only admitting His Lordship and that He has something to give that you cannot do for yourself. 
         Should the Holy Spirit give you Ears to Hear what I am saying today, I pray that you are RELEASED from the guilt of saying: “Please Lord, help me.” May you have the FREEDOM to say this prayer; knowing that God hears this prayer as much as He does your great prayers of faith. Trust Him He loves you so much.

NOT BEGGARS

         No, we are not beggars. We have been redeemed and made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and kings and priests in the Kingdom of God. (I Peter 2:9, Rev. 1:6, 5:10). Yet, we will never be God. And even Jesus demonstrated His humility toward our Father.
         No. God doesn’t hate beggars. He hears their prayers, when they are praying from pure hearts and honestly asking God to help them when they can’t help themselves. Especially, when they come to Him for the first time, acknowledging their inability to save themselves. 
         It is in their humble approach that God is able to forgive their sins, restore their souls, and teach them the hope for this life, and the promise of eternal salvation.
         NO! I’m no longer too PROUD to ask. And even beg…from time to time, from the only One who can supply all my needs. He is Lord.

PRINCE OR PAUPER
GOD LOVES US ALL EQUALLY
PRAISE GOD!

 BEGGER OR KING HE LOVES US ALL!

Some times, it’s okay to beg. But it is usually enough to “Ask”.