Two years ago, I brought a group of friends from Manila to our farm. As we traveled up the mountain, one of them asked, "Bakit ito ang pinili mong lupa? Malayo, rough, and mahirap puntahan! Bakit hindi ka bumili ng mas maganda?" Sabi ko sa kanya "Ito lang kasi ang binigay ni God sa amin noon. Since He did not give me extra money to buy something better, ang puwede ko lang gawin ay pagyamanin ang binigay Niya."
Wouldn't it be nice if we can choose our lot in life— our job, our inheritance, and our business? This would make it easier for everyone involved, di ba? While some have this privilege, this is not the case for most of us. We find jobs riddled with conflicts, we inherit possessions that are flawed, and we get into businesses that are full of challenges. If God owns everything, why would He give us imperfect gifts?
As I searched the Bible for answers, I found two reasons why God does not give us what we think is the best for us. Matthew 25:14-15 tells us that God will entrust to us talents according to our abilities. On the other hand, John 9:13 tell us that things happen so that God's power may be seen in us. This means that whatever we have today, God gave them because He thinks they are the best for us.
Some people easily leave their jobs, sell their lands, and hop from one business to another because they feel there is something better elsewhere. They do not stay long enough to grow their abilities and to experience God's glory as He creates miracles through the problems He allows them to experience.
The two pictures below show a contrast of how our farm looked like when we first acquired it versus how it is today. The first picture shows an area covered with worthless cogon grass, while the second one shows a forest filled with animals and plants. God gave my family a farm that was difficult to manage because He wanted to grow our abilities and show the world His glory. I believe God wants to do the same thing to everyone who is willing to trust that He has given what is best for them.
Doc Alvin Ang, one of the most respected economists in the country, once said, "Our possession do not define who we are." I agree! But let me just say that I also believe that our possession should reflect who we are before God. The way we manage our possession should show that God remains the Owner, as we strive to be His good and faithful stewards.
