The Gift or the Giver?

In his book “Don’t Waste Your Cancer,” John Piper says, “We waste our cancer if we seek comfort from our odds rather than from God.”

(It’s only 18 pages long. You can read it free at https://document.desiringgod.org/don-t-waste-your-cancer-en.pdf?ts=1439242114)

He wrote this before having surgery so he’s obviously not against medical treatment. I think he’s asking what is going on in the heart. Do we have comfort because of external circumstances or because Jesus holds onto us?

Medical treatment is a good thing. It is a gift from God, James 1:17. But which gives me the greater sense of security — the gift or the Giver?

I don’t have cancer but the question applies to pretty much everything.

Do I have peace because I am in a peaceful situation? Or because nothing can separate me from the love of God.

Is my soul at rest because I have a wife who loves me? Because my kids are healthy? Because I have a job? Because we have food on the table tonight? Or because the One who gives me all those things is my bedrock, and he promises to supply all my needs.

I suspect this is what Jesus was getting at when he calmed the storm, then said to the panicking disciples, “Where is your faith?”  Luke 8:25.  Is your faith in Me to provide for you, or something else?

If I am honest with myself, I trust God to meet some of my needs, and not others.

I have suffered my losses in life. I hate going through that kind of pain. I must say I discover in those seasons that he honestly, truly does supply my needs, and often much, much more. He was good for his word, just like he promised.

I know there are a thousand other ways I don’t trust him, though.

I want to rely on him and trust him more, instead of my circumstances. So sometimes I lean on ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17,‬ ‭ “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith comes through his Word, so I read it more than I used to. I do find this enlarges my faith.

Some days I pray like the disciples did, Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5.  And he does increase it slowly.

That’s where I am in my journey right now, and I thought the question was worth sharing.

Which gives me the most peace— the gifts or The Giver?