Over the past few weeks, I have enjoyed some fishing trips with other people. I love to see others catch fish or have a successful hunt. I have had my share of those moments, so I don't need to have everything about me. But there are times when I do make it about me. My next plans are to be dropped off at the river and to float down the river, and fish by myself from my kayak. Those hours alone produce so much more than what fish I may or may not catch. I also think about my Pinnacle bike rides. This article is a product of one of those trips, where it was just me, God, and few deer and turkeys. I never fail to get what I need from God when I make these trips. I believe God wants that as well. Let me say it this way. Sometimes it's all about me. Not God. Not you. But me. Let me say it another way. Sometimes God makes things all about you. Sometimes it's for something that He wants to give. And sometimes it's for something He wants to check. Let me illustrate.

Some time ago I was contacted by someone who needed financial help from my church. The problem was, I was no longer pastoring a church. It would have been easy to move them on, but in my spirit (while I was riding my bike), God said to me, this needs to come from your ministry - that I am the pastor of Outdoor Truths Ministry. So, before I agreed, I gave God my bank account number to make sure He had the right person. Well, I didn't, but the idea crossed my mind. But the thing that I remember most about this encounter with God, was that He also let me know that this thing I was supposed to do, was not about the person in need, but about me. He was saying to me that the person's worthiness was none of my business. No vetting. No references. No follow ups. I was just to do what God asked me to do. So, thankfully I did. What I understood as God was leading me this way, was that He was doing a heart check. He was checking if my faith was still in God or had it moved to my ministry. Was I depending on the blessings or the One giving the blessings. On that day, I passed the test. But another one will come.

My friend, at times in your life, God is going to make it about you. You are going to want to analyze, compromise, and debate. You are going to crunch the numbers, and the numbers will be in your favor. The devil will then assure you that God would never ask you do something so irresponsible. But there will be a still small voice that will remind you that this thing that God is asking you to do, is only about you. Your obedience. Your faith. Your heart. But the truth is, just like my test, your test will not come so that God can find out where your heart is. He already knows. It will come so that you and I can find out where our heart really is. It will be right where our treasure is. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~Jesus

Gary Miller
gary@outdoortruths.org

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men's events for churches and associations.