And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
“By its being thus ordered, that the creature should have so absolute and universal a dependence on God, provision is made that God should have our whole souls, and should be the object of our undivided respect. If we had our dependence partly on God, and partly on something else, man’s respect would be divided to those different things on which he had dependence. Thus it would be if we depended on God only for a part of our good, and on ourselves, or some other being, for another part: or if we had our good only from God, and through another that was not God, and in something else distinct from both, our hearts would be divided between the good itself, and Him from whom, and Him through whom, we received it. But now there is no occasion for this, God being not only He from or of whom we have all good, but also through whom, and is that good itself, that we have from Him and through Him. So that whatsoever there is to attract our respect, the tendency is still directly towards God, all unites in Him as the centre.”
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in a sermon entitled “God’s Glorified in Man’s Dependence” in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, A.M. edited by Edward Hickman (London: Ball, Arnold & Company, 1840) 6.
One blessing from my time with my daughter, Sophie, while driving nearly 1,100 miles together these past two days has been (in the words of Jonathan Edwards) her “undivided respect” for God. She mentioned numerous times how thankful she is that “God causes all things to work together for good” in her life. Today’s Scripture has been formative for her. Her dependence and trust in God is the bedrock for her generosity toward others. It’s beautiful to see.
Edwards discerns keenly that if there be any thread of independence within us, that is trusting ourselves or anything or anyone apart from God, our hearts will be divided between God and that other thing or other one. How can we see if we have undivided respect toward God? That’s not an easy question for any of us to answer honestly. A glimpse at things like our bank accounts, our credit card statements, and our schedules may offer clues.
Perhaps take a few minutes today, and ask God this question: Is there anything or anyone in my life that I am depending on in addition to or other than God? Friends, it’s easy to follow the path of the Israelites who worshiped the golden calf instead of the God who gave them the golden calf (cf. Exodus 32-34). Whatever comes to mind, let go of it. Make God the center of your trust. And find peace in the care of the God who works all things for our good.