“THE GOODS”

Jack Davis

Who has the Goods? Hint, “And the servant took ten of the camels…of his master, and departed; for all of the goods of his master were in his hand” – Gen. 24:10.

In this Chapter we find a most beautiful pen picture, of the mission of the Holy Spirit being sent forth to bring a bride to the heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. This servant, representing the Holy Spirit has the camels, picturing the providences of God, and the goods, speaking of His gracious giving, in His control.

I would invite you to consider with me, by direction from God’s Holy Word, what our attitude should be in relation to the goods mentioned in Scripture, both perishable and non-perishable. By goods we might think of possessions, property, valuables, treasures, substance and sustenance.

Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven…For where your treasure is there will your heart be also” – Mt. 6:19-21.

Paul told Timothy; “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy…” I Tim. 6:17.

Thank God for such comforting admonishment as Hebrews 10:34-37. “For ye had compassion of me in my bounds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Glory, glory, glory to God! Do you believe His promise? Are we looking for Him? Are we loving His appearing? What manner of persons ought we to be? II Pet. 3:11-14.

What manner of persons were these in Hebrews Ten? How could they have such an attitude, to take joyfully, bare cheerfully the plundering of their property? The confiscation of their belongings? Evidently their affections were set on things above. Praise God they were not just pretending, playing games, whistling in the dark, they were not saying of well, I don’t care, these things mean nothing to me. They manifested this attitude because they really knew something worth knowing. This knowledge wasn’t just theory with them, but rather possessed with treasure of everlasting value. They had something that the world could not take it away.

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” – II Cor. 5:1. As we move on in God’s will, being led by the Spirit, we lay hold by faith on that which He has laid up for us in heaven.

“And he said, I am Abraham’s servant. And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath” – Gen. 24:34-36.

The Servant not only told Rebekah of Isaac’s wealth but also gave her earring and bracelets of gold, Vs. 22. In type we understand also from scripture that the Holy Spirit has the “goods” for our ears and hands. He divinely opens our ears, as channels to our hearts, and also otherwise equips us for service.

“The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things” – Gen. 24:53. Do you know the Holy Spirit? He has gifts for all the family of God. The Holy Spirit is indeed the distributor of all God’s great giving. I Cor. 12:4,11, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…But all these (gifts) worketh that one and selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” He, and not man determines who gets what gifts. The Holy Spirit Himself is God the Father’s gift to His family, and no one else. But our Father does have one main stipulation, we must ask. Read Mt. 7:6-11. He would make us to know that everything that our Father has given to us is good, thus everything that the Holy Spirit has brought with Him is also good. James 1:16-17. 

He not only convicts our hearts of our need of a Savior, and that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, but was also sent to bring us into our Lord’s eternal wealth. What a delight to meditate on I Cor. 2:9-12. Is He making you know the “goods” that the Father has freely given? Is He revealing to your heart, the good that our God has prepared for them that love Him? If not, Why not? 

Jesus said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father” John 16:12-16.

God has also sent our guide to make us realize that our adversary would use material goods (stuff) to blind us to our deeper spiritual needs. “For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you” I Cor. 4:7-8. Read also Rev. 3:17-18.

Paul wrote, that they which receive an abundance of grace shall reign in life by one Christ Jesus – Rom. 5:17. Jesus said: Blessed are the poor in spirit, in other words we are blessed when we know, or have a deep awareness of our spiritual lack. He also said that we are blessed when we hunger or have a real appetite for that which pertains to divine righteousness, Mt. 5:3,6.