The Biggest Lie Among Christians: God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle
A few years ago, I was involved in a men's Bible study and one of the guys was going through marital troubles. His wife had left him, taking their two children, and needless to say, he was struggling with it. After revealing this to the group, a few told our friend that they would be praying for him and his wife, and then another guy spoke up and said, "You know God won't give you more than you can handle." He may have even included another of the biggest lies among Christians: "Everything happens for a reason."
As my blood pressure rose and a righteous anger built inside me, I watched the other men's reactions only to see them nodding and saying, "Yes, brother. That's true."
It took all the strength of Christ in me to hold my peace and not walk over to that guy and kick him in the groin, first for His character assassination of God, and then for his irresponsible words that could cause our friend to passively submit to what was happening in his life as being "the will of God." However, exercising patience comes through understanding, and I understood that this guy was just trying to help and comfort our friend, and he could only tap in to what he'd been taught in the past--however erroneous and perverted it was.
Later the same night, I sent two emails: one to my hurting friend to tell him that God was not the author of his problems, but the solution, and that Jesus said, I have spoken these things to you that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. [John 16:33]
The second email I sent to the guy who made the statement, "God won't give you more than you can handle." I referred to his statement and asked where in the Scripture could this be found--either as a direct teaching or even in inference. Even though I gave him grace the night before, I believe that grace doesn't necessarily come without correction or at least challenging him in private. I went to him privately as the Lord taught.
I already knew what verse he was going to give, but I wanted to wait for his response. The next day, he emailed me back and told me exactly what I'd thought... he was quoting from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that says: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV)
I'll ask you the same question as I asked him: Where in this passage does it say that "God won't give you more than you can handle"? Where does it even infer that God is the "giver" or source of our temptations or troubles?
Sadly, I list this ever-so-frequent interpretation of this passage of Scripture in the Book of Perversions. In fact, it's listed in verse 2 after, "God didn't mean that...", and before, "God only helps those who help themselves" and "Everything happens for a reason."
The reason the interpretation is a perversion because one part has been conveniently plucked from the middle of the entire thought God was trying to convey through Paul. Yes, it's true that God won't let you to be tempted beyond what you can bear but this does not mean that God is the source of the temptation.
Because they have been taught that God is sovereign, many Christians think our Father is the source of all their troubles and suffering. They think He uses those problems as tools to teach them something or change their behavior, even though the Word clearly proves the opposite: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt any man. [James 1:13]
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God.
Let's look again at the complete thought... first of all, in verse 12, the Lord gives us a warning to be careful if we think we stand lest we should fall. Standing in Christ, we can do all things, so the Lord is not talking about our standing as Christians, but about us standing up to temptation in our flesh, that we must be careful NOT to think we are above succumbing to temptation, lest we are filled with pride and fall. In fact, he refers back to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and that we should learn from them--that those things were written to give us examples and for our own correction (v. 11).
Then the word of God speaks to us according to who we are in Christ, that NO temptation that has taken or seized you except what is common to man. There are no "special" temptations for us, that would be more tempting than what anyone else faces. All temptations are common to man in the sense that temptation falls into one of three categories: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. [1 John 2:16] Therefore, at its core, each temptation we face is founded in either of these three principles.
So then, every temptation we face is common, and then the word of God says, But God is faithful... speaking in direct contrast to temptation and also to our flesh that is not faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God is faithful to what....? He is faithful to provide you a way out of temptation so that you can stand up under it. The Lord just said, No temptation has seized you except as is common to man. Therefore, there is no temptation in this world that God hasn't already provided the remedy for, so that we would be completely victorious over. This is what the Lord wants to emphasize.... that regardless of what comes your way, God is faithful to His word... that every word of God has power to accomplish anything in this world, and He will even hasten His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). The Lord spoke this very thing to Paul, My grace is sufficient for you. [2 Corinthians 12:9]
Do you remember what Jesus said, A kingdom divided against itself shall not stand. [Mark 3:24] Believing God is not only the author of our problems, but also the solution puts God at odds with Himself. We do have an enemy who attacks us, but he is no where near as faithful and accurate as he has been portrayed. It is far too often our own mistakes and lusts that get us into trouble. But yet, God who is rich in mercy wherewith He has loved us, still gives us the remedy and victory that is in Christ.
This is what this passage is teaching... that Jesus did not die and rise again to give us His Spirit so that we could only "cope" and struggle through this life, but for us to be victorious over any and all temptations, trials, and the like. It is because of perversion of this verse along with others that has hindered and destroyed God's people. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. [Hosea 4:6]
I know of multitudes of people who have and had what the doctors call "terminal illnesses" like cancer, etc. and they have failed to see healing and died because they had been taught that "everything happens for a reason" and that "God won't give you more than you can handle." They have, as the word of God teaches, not correctly discerned Jesus' body that was given for healing of ALL sickness and disease (1 Corinthians 11:23-34).
Thereby, they submit to sickness, disease, poverty, divorce, tragedy as if it is God's will for these things to happen, or that God is doing things like healing and restoration on "His timetable," which means most of the time when you get to heaven. Does the Scripture not say, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. [2 Corinthians 6:2]
We are no longer waiting on the Lord's appearance in this world, my brothers and sisters. He has come in the fullness of power that is in God. Our waiting now is likened to a servant who is "waiting" on dinner guests. He is active in serving them, not "waiting" for something to happen. When you wait or actively serve the LORD, you shall renew your strength, and mount up with wings as eagles (Isaiah 40:31). Additionally, if you look in the Hebrew, you will see that the word qavah translated wait also means "to twist and bind (like a rope); to be strong, robust (for the notion of tying fast, tying fast, is applied to strength." (Gesenius Lexicon)
The kingdom of God that Jesus commanded His disciples to preach which included heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give [Matthew 10:7-8] did not profit those who sat by the wayside waiting for the water to move (John 5:3). The impotent and sick ones remained in their case because they were "waiting" on God to move instead of understanding that God isn't the one who is stuck. He has already moved through Jesus and now it is our time to move and press through the crowd of unbelief to touch the hem of Jesus' garment, and as many as touched him were made whole. [Mark 6:56]
Brothers and sisters, I love you all, and want so deeply for to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus our Lord, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all. [Ephesians 1:17-23]
May you have ears to hear, and eyes to see what the Lord is saying through me...
This is a follow-up to my recent BLOG entitled, THE BIGGEST LIE AMONG CHRISTIANS. I received a few emails asking for clarification on some of the points I made, so I want to do so.
Some people mentioned Job and Paul's thorn in the flesh, and one question was asked if I was saying that God WAS the source of all our problems... I'm sure at least some of these things crossed your mind, so I hope this helps...
And please do this... ask yourself what message glorifies, esteems, values, magnifies the Lord Jesus, and what He has done--what I teach, or what others teach that seem to be in conflict with this. Let us remember that the Spirit of God's ministry is to testify and glorify Jesus (John 15:26; John 16:14).
No, I do not believe God gives us anything negative as in the context of what I was sharing. As Jesus said, He is the one who takes away our burdens and gives us rest. His yoke is easy and light (Matthew 11:28-30).
What comes across our path is NOTHING in comparison to the power that resides within us, and He would be unjust to not give us the ability, but yet hold us accountable.
I do believe that a person would drown in their burdens if they did not seek God's deliverance. God does not arbitrarily intervene in a person's life without their cooperation. In effect, the Lord's hands would be tied, and through unbelief, a person would "limit the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41). The town of Nazareth rejected Jesus and because of their unbelief, He COULD NOT do any mighty works there (Mark 6:5-6). I see this happen all the time with fear, depression, sickness, untimely death, etc.
What I'm teaching in this BLOG is that while "bad things" like sickness, divorce, tragedy, etc. happen to us either of our own ignorance, rebellion, or as a result of a demonic attack, God is NOT the one who "gives us" these things.
The word of God says, Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning, of his own will he begat us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. [James 1:16-18]
The common emphasis on the passage from 1 Corinthians 10 is on God's allowance of temptation, while the true emphasis is on how God has made us through Christ to be more than conquerors in any and all situations we face. This is why taking the part out of context is incorrect, (while true as in the case of Job and Paul's demonic attacks) because as Jesus said, These things I have spoken to you that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. [John 16:33]
Was the Lord emphasizing all the trouble we would have, or was He saying that in spite of all the trouble we may have, that we would have peace and be overcomers through Him? With my whole heart I believe He wants us to emphasize the latter--for this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. [1 John 5:4] And this faith is not simply an assertion of belief, but an active dynamic life that empowers us to live in the newness of life and in the likeness of His resurrection...(Romans 6:4-5) begotten of God and overcomers of the world, a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
The moment we cease trying to be victorious in our own strength, the Lord's power is activated, which is why when a person is failing to walk in love, patience, health, peace, joy, and all the fruit of the Spirit, they can know that they are NOT tapping into what God has given us through Jesus and His Spirit. The Lord said, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. [2 Corinthians 12:9]
The Lord's strength is made perfect without any assistance of our own strength, and this is what the Lord was teaching Paul, who had been trying to get rid of something (persecution) of which he had not been redeemed, and his efforts were being made in his own power, and by his own admission, that by surrendering his own power, he knew the power of Christ rested upon him. (You may read my teaching The Truth About Paul's Thorn in the Flesh for more about this subject.
This is not a criticism of anyone's personal situation, but sadly, many have been taught to identify themselves more with Job instead of with the Lord Jesus, who is our TRUE example. This happens especially when the promises of God have not manifested themselves, and because of unbelief, they conclude that God is "allowing the devil to torment them" for some redemptive or refining purpose. It's funny that Jesus never mentioned this in all His dealings with sick and demon-possessed people. You would think that at least one would have been a candidate for this kind of refinement.
I had one pastor tell me, "I feel like Job because of all the trouble I'm having!" And I said, "Well, why don't you quit feeling you're like Job and believe you're like Jesus?" It's convenient to identify with Job because the way it is taught, that Satan is just God's messenger boy, and when God is finished with you, He'll call off Satan's dogs.
This is NOT the message of the New Testament. It is up to us who are in Christ to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might [Ephesians 6:10]; and for us (in Christ) to resist the devil, and he will flee from you (not from God) [James 4:7]; and for us (in Christ) to stand against the wiles of the devil [Ephesians 6:11]; and for us (in Christ) to not give place to the devil [Ephesians 4:27]; and for us (in Christ) to not be ignorant of his devices. [2 Corinthians 2:11]
Do you see what I mean? God through Jesus has given us the power to be more than conquerors, that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, but this ability is tied to or according to the power that is working IN US. [Ephesians 3:20]
The Lord's words are clear: "My grace is sufficient for you! What I have given you is more than enough to take care of any problem, to access ALL of the promises, all of our inheritance in Christ."
Jesus is enough! So let us get our thumbs out of our mouths and grow up and walk in what Jesus died and rose again to give us, and share the kingdom with the rest of the world.
This is what I'm talking about as it comes to these perversions of God's word... the immature ones in Christ are led astray by wolves in sheep's clothing and then by their devilish ways, they infect others with the same poison.
