Many years ago, I asked a very successful businessman if he would like to consider joining me in buying and developing a property. No sooner did I get the words out than his answer was ‘No!’ It wasn’t, ‘I’m going to pray about it,’ or ‘Let me think about it!’ His reply was just, ‘NO!’ Being that he was a successful business owner and a godly man, my first thought was, ‘Wow! That hurts!’ Yet, as I reflected on his accomplishments and wisdom, I appreciated the power of ‘no.’ As I considered the simple response, ‘no’ and how many times I’ve been pulled into doing things that distract me from the lane God places us in, I couldn’t help but think about what God says when saying no!
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37
Jesus makes it clear that a godly man, a man with wisdom, knows his lane! ‘All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.’ As men who seek God’s will, we will learn the value of the simple word ‘No.’ This doesn’t imply that every activity is wrong, but rather that men must consider how Satan often employs distractions to lead us astray.
Men, God has created you for a purpose! Yes, He wants to use you! He has ordered your steps. Psalm 37 reveals, ‘The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.’ Nevertheless, Satan aims to divert your steps, whereas God desires to prosper, protect, and guide you. Satan seeks to derail God’s plan! How does he achieve this? Through busyness and wasted time.
Luke 14:15-23
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full…
Jesus, just like the man in this parable, is preparing for a great banquet. This banquet is for anyone who has sought the Lord. It’s not just ‘any banquet.’ This banquet is being prepared for those who have sought the Lord! Yet, the very ones who were invited were too busy—they were preoccupied with daily activities. Simply put, the ‘YES Men’ had little time for the banquet prepared by the Lord. Men, we must remember that Satan wants you to miss the banquet. He doesn’t always do this through blatant sin; sometimes, he does it by robbing your time. And it will only get worse! Currently, there are 23 social media apps, from Facebook to Instagram. Guys, I’m not on even one! This doesn’t mean they’re all bad. It just means beware. As a business owner, I have someone running my social media, but like my wealthy friend who said ‘No!’, I am too interested in what God is doing in my life versus being distracted. James 1:8 says that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. I don’t want to be an unstable ‘yes man.’ I want to be a stable ‘no man.’ Remember the trees planted by the streams that yield fruit, and their leaves don’t wither?
Psalms 1:1-3
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
The streams God is referring to are His Word. As we spend time in His Word, cultivating a relationship with our Heavenly Father, we begin to bear fruit. God created us to bear fruit, but this can only happen if we prioritize time with Him! Wise individuals have learned the importance of saying ‘No!’ They decline things that hinder our time with God. Consider how you allocate your time and recognize the tactics of our adversary. God desires to bless you, but this cannot occur if you don’t make room for Him and His Word in your life. Reflect on the wisdom of letting your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Satan has devised a scheme of busyness for us, while Jesus invites us to dine and commune with Him! Let’s not miss out on the banquet because we’re too occupied! Although the initial rejection of ‘No!’ may sting, it’s worth considering God’s plan for your life!
Have a great weekend!
S. L. Thomas, RTM