- A hungry boy sat on a river bank looking longingly across to the other side. A canoeist paddling by asked why he looked so sad. The boy explained how hungry he and his family were and how he could see this tree laden with fruit on the other side of the river but his father had forbidden him to ever cross.
The canoeist assured the boy his father was just being over-protective because he didn’t want his son to drown. Wishing to be helpful, the canoeist then suggested the boy hop into his canoe so he could paddle him safely to the other side to pick the fruit and then row him back again. He reassured the boy that his father would be so pleased when he saw the food to feed his hungry family.
The boy eagerly jumped aboard. Soon he was safely on the other bank climbing the tree and picking fruit. As the canoeist watched the grateful boy pick the fruit, a grin spread from ear to ear – he was happy to have done such a good deed. Moments later, however, his grin disappeared when he saw a lion leap into the tree and devour the boy in a single gulp.
We can find it very difficult to understand the reasons why good people often go through bad times. Why does God permit or withhold certain things that seem completely unfair or unreasonable? We must remember, God has a reason for everything and often that reason is not made clear to us.
Understanding this, we must resist the urge to rush in with our good intentions. This is not to say we do nothing, but before we take action, have we considered what God is trying to do in that person’s life. Is our well-meaning intentions going to rob that person of an opportunity to grow spiritually; or worse, put them in a lion’s den.
As Christians, our intercessory prayer and service are designed to help the spiritual advancement of others – never to hinder them. If we are ever in doubt whether or not our good deeds will have dire consequences, we should do what the well-meaning canoeist should have done – consult the Father before he acted.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8.
