Escaping the Snare

Indians and pioneers 200-300 years ago provided for themselves by hunting with traps and snares.  Contrast that to today’s hunting with rifles or crossbows done mostly for sport or as an alternative meat source. Currently, snares and traps are primarily geared towards humanely capturing animals to relocate them.  Regardless of the end purpose, the concept hasn’t changed much throughout time: camouflage the trap and entice the animal with something desirable, usually food.

Satan is very accomplished at ensnaring mankind with something near and dear to an individual’s heart.  It worked with King David and it works with us.  In the early years of his kingship, David was acutely aware that he was only alive through God’s supernatural protection and equipping, and that God alone had elevated him from a lowly shepherd boy to the King of Israel.  If we fast-forward to the end of David’s reign, he was by then accustomed to military victories, wealth, and the adulation of people.  Pride was revealed when David decided to count the number of available fighting men in Israel (1 Chronicles 21), as a measure of his might.  This displeased God because David had shifted from trusting God to trusting the supply itself.  The consequence of his sin of pride and idolatry was a plague that killed 70,000 people.

It is a prudent exercise to consider how God has specifically blessed us and where we have become so accustomed to the blessing that over time we have begun to rely on its presence.  This includes things like administrative skills that elevate us in our professions, financial and material abundance bringing security and contentment, mental acuities garnering the respect of others, and a litany of skills, athletic abilities, and talents given at God’s discretion.  Have we allowed these things to identify and justify us?  If like David, we were initially humbled by the gift and in awe of God’s lavishness, years later, are we still giving God glory for the gift, or taking glory in the use of the gift?

Perhaps we don’t realize that God’s gifts are also covert tests.  “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48b) The Lord is looking for two primary things in those who would serve Him: a pure heart and ruthless trust.  The pure heart will always give credit where it is due.  Ruthless trust is necessary to overcome worldly wisdom and fleshly desires, giving way to obedience to Him despite fears or enticements.  We must understand that God did not choose us for what we could bring to the table, but to highlight His work.  ^“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Acknowledging this is key to maintaining that place of humility that qualifies us for Kingdom service.  It enables us to use sober judgment regarding ourselves, not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3).  Because of our own struggles with pride, we can demonstrate compassion for the struggles of others, rather than making judgments about them.  When God chooses to use us, our attitude must be as Paul quoted, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”  (I Corinthians 1:31)  That action snaps the trap closed, and we avoid being caught in it.