LET’S MAKE A DEAL!

Christian writer Kimberly Taylor share this incident with us about a conversation she had with her husband Mike in which she used a phrase she bets we’ve all used at one time or another. She was grumbling to Mike about a particular business situation, but said she was “dealing with it.” Mike said, “Why do people say, ‘I’m dealing with it?’ Doesn’t a ‘deal’ mean that both people are getting something out of it?”

Well, she had never thought about that! So, she decided to look up the word ‘deal.’ The meaning is “an agreement entered into by two or more parties for their mutual benefit.” She then looked at other words that are complimentary of the word “deal:”

Agreement

Relationship

Partnership

Compromise

Negotiation

Unfortunately, while some things we are dealing with are good, other deals are those made with the devil. A prime example are those dealing with bad habits. But how do you make a deal with something that is harming you? Well, we know what the enemy gets out of the deal according to Jesus in John 10:10: “The thief only comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” So, when the devil gets us spending our time and money on excessive and expensive habits he fulfills his mission statement. But what do we get out of the deal?

It is a hard question. As God’s people, we need to question the things we are “dealing with” and if it is not a mutually beneficial situation, we need to refuse that deal! When it comes to sin, we ought never “deal with” that. According to God’s word, here is the proper response to sin: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).”

On the other hand, consider some of the great “deals” the Lord offers His people: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).” “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3).” “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9).”  ^“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5).” In these scriptures, you see rewards are everlasting life, peace, reward, and wisdom. What a deal!

But to obtain these blessings, conditions must be met:

Believe in Jesus

Keep mind stayed on the Lord

Continue to do good

Ask God for help

God wants His people to redeem the deals found in His word. In Psalm 35:27, the Lord says, “Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, ‘The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.’” Wise peoples search out God’s promises in His Word like gold and silver because promises like these represent the true riches in life.

So today, consider the words coming out of your mouth. What you are dealing with? If you’ve been making deals where you shouldn’t, then take authority over those situations, asking God specifically for a plan for your circumstances. Each day, pray for strength to walk out that plan and receive it by faith. The best deal of all is the abundant life that Jesus promised in John 10:10. It’s all about getting to know God through a deeper way! Before you know it, you will see bigger and better deals coming your way – and will prosper from them.

As our pastor, Rick Warren, often tells us, if you keep being drawn to dabble in activities that are bad for your spiritual life, don’t hide them or put them out of reach, get rid of them. At one time I was wondering why it was so hard for me to lose weight. My sweet wife made meals that were healthy, nutritious, delicious, and the right thing for a person on a diet. I found out the meals were fine, but my snacking was what was doing me in. I tried to make a deal by snacking only in small portions, but that didn’t work either. Finally, I simply said goodbye to mixed nuts, tortilla chips, Babybel cheese, Turon (fried wrapped plantains with brown sugar), Pringles potato chips in of all flavors, Flavored Filipino Nagaraya cracker nuts, etc. etc. As long as they were around, in the fridge, desk drawer, pantry, they drew me like a magnet. The same goes for TV, movies, books, magazines, places of entertainment, social gatherings. You can’t make a deal with them. You will be the loser every time. – Dr. Robert R Seyda