Good Subtraction

by Michael Beck

“But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.” (Job 16:7)

Sometimes we need to become weary of the many things that have distracted us from the one thing truly needful. We need to lose the company of men to find the company of God. We need to be in a weary and desolate wilderness in order to turn to the Fountain of Living Waters.

We are afraid of being empty. We are afraid of silence. We can be uncomfortable alone in the presence of God. So we busy ourselves with the many things we find interesting because we have yet to find God interesting. He wearies us. His company is unexciting.

What must be removed from us before we will confront our underlying disdain for the God who has been waiting in the wings for our company and fellowship? The Lord gives and He takes away. Sometimes, the subtraction is necessary.

More from brother Michael Beck.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Making Peace with God | It is Finished! | Discipleship | The Gospel Centers Upon Christ’s Blood | Christology | The Gospel: What is It?

Esteeming the Words of His Mouth More than my Necessary Food [podcast]

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12 —– EDUCATED? … By WHOM? …. For decades now here in America, we’ve all been brainwashed toward education. But who’s educating us? What education? From what perspective and the premise, the foundation, the world view? Christ’s apostle Paul warned “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).  Many today esteem worldly education in order […]

Powerful Examples of God Answering the Prayers of the Desperate [podcast]

“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. … 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles … The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of […]

God is Ready to Forgive and Plenteous in Mercy [podcast]

  “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5 God is… “good” “ready to forgive” “plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15  Our LORD is… “a God full of compassion” “gracious” “longsuffering” “plenteous in mercy and truth” “His Compassions Fail Not” “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not […]