Trimming the Fat (Excess)

There is a warning to shepherds (pastors) of the flock about fattening themselves off of the sheep (the congregation).

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? Ezekiel 34:2

I've gotten bent out of shape at times in my life about some things I have gone through and the Lord let me know that I don't live in reality at times. I'm not even come close to what women go through in third world countries just to keep their children fed.  At times in my life I have lived very hand to mouth existence in trying to support four little children after a divorce and make ends meet on a secretary salary.

It's like trimming the fat in our lives like we trim a steak. The fat gives it flavor, but I don't like to eat the fat. The Bible talks about the "fat of the land." But then it warns about fattening ourselves in the last days. It's a downsizing in life. Job lost everything in life, even the emotional support of his wife.

Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. James 5:3

There was a widow in the Bible and it got so bad that back then the creditors were going to sell her two sons! The prophet Elisha helped her out. The key was she sought the Lord for her deliverance from her debts and creditors.

We see with Hezekiah that the Lord told him that he was going to die, but then when Hezekiah cried to the Lord (not doctors) that God sent the prophet back and told him to use a “remedy” to lay on the sore and be healed. Jesus told the lepers to get their confirmation through the priests so we can go to God first and then confirm our healing through physicians. (Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.)

The key seems to be that God is our deliverance.  I developed a rapid heartbeat about a year ago and the first one I heard this scripture, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous and the Lord delivers him out of them all” Psalm 34:19, so I lay hands on my heart and thank God he is my deliverer when it happens. 

Same with a knee problem I got several years ago.  I was prayed for at a Bible study because the sports medicine doctor said there is nothing they can do for it but take pain killers.  My knee would lock up if I hiked too much, at bed at night when I was sleeping and when I traveled a long time.  It was excruciating pain.  I got hands laid on my knee about two years ago.  I had a shot of pain 3 or 4 times, but each time I thanked God for my healing and immediately it left.

Healing is in the now.  Faith is in the now----“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead –he thanked God ahead of time that he heard them.  He did that for our benefit not his – he said that he always knew the Father heard his prayer.   Thanking God when we pray that he has our requests.  

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philip 4:6

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15

In the Old Testament it was called the thank offering.

If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering they are to offer thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with oil, and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in. Lev. 7:12

and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.'  Genesis 45:18

The widow found something in her house left for God to multiply, just like the boy who gave Jesus his lunch and it was multiplied, what we give to God, no matter how small, He will multiply it back.  When Peter gave Jesus the use of his boat, he filled it with fish.   It can be our love, our resources, our time, our minds, our strength, our heart, our lives.   Jesus promised if we lose our life for his sake, we will find it.

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 King 4:1-7

Mary O’Neill