The Basics

[Timl1980]

Sometimes...I forget about the basics. 

 

Sometimes...I catch myself "spiritualizing" my mental exhaustion and fatigue...rationalizing: "If I would just pray a little more...", or, "If only I were more like Brother so and so...or Sister spiritual...THEN I would be okay...THEN I'd be better!!

 

And sometimes...sometimes I forget that the most spiritual thing I could do, the most "spiritual" that I could possibly be in that moment...is just to accept that I'm human... accept that I'm weak... accept that I need to stop, eat something...and rest.

 

Remember the time Jehovah provided a meal for a suicidal prophet?

 

1 Kings 19:4: "He went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree, and he asked that he might die. He said: “It is enough! Now, O Jehovah, take my life away, for I am no better than my forefathers.”

 

A prophet of Jehovah...coming off the highest "spiritual high" he'd likely ever experienced in his life...and here we find him under a broom tree less than 48 hours later...begging Jehovah to let him die.

 

Why? 

 

Because he had become so focused on his spiritual crisis...that he forgot about the basics.

 

Jehovah's spirit had helped him outrun a chariot...but it was his own adrenaline that made him run from Jezebel's death threats.

 

The account doesn't say that he ate after he ran...the account doesn't say that he drank...simply that he experienced a spiritual crisis, panicked and then ran away...into the wilderness...away from Jezebel.

 

He ran so far, so fast...that when he finally collapsed...he forgot he was human.

 

He attributed his failure to a SPIRITUAL failure...but actually, he had simply neglected the basics.

 

But Jehovah didn't forget.

 

Jehovah knew what he needed...and it wasn't a lecture...it wasn't questions about his lack of faith...or even reminders of what he had done in the past.

 

Jehovah knew this dear faithful man needed the basics right then more than ever in his entire life...and he provided them: Rest, a gentle physical touch, food and water...and then MORE rest, followed by ANOTHER physical touch...and ANOTHER meal that then sustained him for 40 days and 40 nights!!

 

And not just any "food"...not cold manna...not something supernatural that Elijah might not have even known what it was...but bread...a warm loaf of bread on a hot stone that no doubt smelt fragrant and wonderful...no doubt tasted crusty outside...soft inside...smelled smoky from the fire...and warmed his cold hands.

 

But did Elijah notice any of those details? Did he even say thank you, to the angel OR to Jehovah?

 

We don't know...we just know he ate, drank...and went back to sleep.

 

Matthew 6:33: "Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you."

 

Was Elijah following this principle?

 

Yes...and that is precisely what put him in this situation in the first place. His faithfulness ANGERED Satan and his servant, Jezebel...to the point where she sought to have him killed.

 

His suicidal breakdown came FROM putting the Kingdom first...not from avoiding it.

 

But Elijah forgot to take care of the basics...his fear, his spiritual exhaustion CAUSED him to view death as better than life...until Jehovah stepped in...until Jehovah reminded him where his power was coming from!

 

1 Kings 19:7 "Later the angel of Jehovah came back a second time and touched him and said: “Get up and eat, for the journey will be too much for you."

 

Notice the word "will"...not "could be"...not "might"...no friends, "for the journey WILL be too much for you."

 

My dear brothers and sisters...all of you...please understand this: When you feel too drained to study, too exhausted to pray...or just too empty to feel grateful...please remember that Jehovah answered a suicidal prophet's prayer...with physical touches from a true friend, a couple of meals...and rest.

 

And Jehovah didn't wait until Elijah pulled himself together...he didn't wait until his prophet "got his head back on straight"...he remembered what Elijah forgot...what I forget...what we ALL forget sometimes: We're human...we're imperfect...and we WILL wear out...unless we take care of the basics.

[cme]

Bro. Tim thank you for that timely reminder.   Its funny last night in prayer I told Jehovah "it hurts to live".   And it does.  However, I agree with you that we need to stick to the basics and take care of our needs.

 

My study texted late last night and told me that I looked tired and exhausted when my husband and I went to give her husband studies.  I was.  But, Jehovah comes first and I am renewed each time I do His will.  But, we are physical and imperfect and we forget that simply taking time out and, resting and sticking to the basics is essential.

 

So.......I came home and took a shot of whisky and went to bed. 

 

Need some humor in my life.  

 

Thank you Tim.

[dljbsp]

Tim. Basic, but beautiful!

Made me hungry too!

Nice writing. Great lesson!