Who’s Your Number One Ally?

“You should be making more money when you speak,” the woman said with authority. “If you join my speaker’s bureau, I will guarantee you two-three high paying speaking engagements per year.”

I was meeting with a bigger than life, entrepreneurial woman about a conference she wanted me to speak at, but she threw this new idea on the table. I wanted to pray about it because it seemed too good to be true, and for me, it was not about the money.

As I sought God’s counsel, I did not feel peace about aligning myself with this woman but thought I was supposed to speak at her conference, even though it meant less pay. As I prayed about the message, God began to give me material for the talk so I thought it was a “no” for the speaker’s bureau but a “yes” for the conference.

I went back to the woman and shared my decision. She agreed to have me speak but changed the deal. I would be paid less because I was not in her speaker’s bureau, but in order to be a presenter at the conference, which was a week away, I was required to bring in two attendees at a high rate. I was basically being asked to raise the money for my speaker’s fee. At that point, I respectfully declined the opportunity and was thankful to God that I did not choose a deeper partnership with this person.

Sometimes we align ourselves with others for the wrong reasons.

We forget to ask God if he approves. Because we are frightened or intimidated we choose to align ourselves with someone or something that seems right at the time rather than trusting God with the situation. We see a “get rich quick” opportunity and don’t check it out thoroughly.

The Israelites got into trouble time and time again for putting their hope in someone or something else rather than God. Through the prophet, Isaiah, God expressed his unhappiness with his people when they allied with another country, Egypt, rather than allowing him to protect them and fight their battles for them. In Isaiah 30, God makes his displeasure known: “Woe to the obstinate children, declares the LORD, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge” (Isaiah 30:1-2).

In Hebrew, the phrase “forming an alliance” can also mean making an idol of.

What and who do we ally with over God? What have we placed higher than God?

Material possessions?

Family members?

Friends?

A business relationship?

A church?

We forget that it is God who decides who has wealth and honor (1 Chronicles 29:12).

We fail to remember it is God who exalts us, not ourselves. “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them with princes, with the princes of their people” (Psalm 113: 7-8).

And we don’t live out Romans 8:31-32: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

In my case, I know God will continue to bring the speaking engagements and he will provide some income through them. He will put my name on people’s minds to consider. He sits on the throne at the Heavenly Speaker’s Bureau.

In light of these uncertain times, who or what will you choose to ally yourself with? Will you seek other things or people to satisfy you?

Will you make decisions without praying first?

Learn from the Psalmist.

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:5-6). (LBW)

God is our number one ally.