In his January 15 op-ed piece in The New York Times, columnist David Brooks brings a great deal of clarity to the question of how developed nations might best be of assistance to Haiti as it rebuilds from last week’s devastating earthquake (“The Underlying Tragedy,” accessible at www.nytimes.com). In the course of his piece, Brooks cites a passage from the recently-published book What Works in Development, a refreshingly honest analysis in which a group of economists conclude that frankly we do not know exactly what sort of aid really helps developing nations. My eyes were drawn especially to a quote from economist Abhijit Banerjee, who concludes with humility, “Perhaps making growth happen is ultimately beyond our control.” That quote strikes me as true of spiritual growth for believers as well. Are there means that God gives to us by which we can grow spiritually? Absolutely-- means like daily prayer and Bible reading, regular fellowship with other believers, attendance at public worship, etc. However, the key word in the quote is the adverb “ultimately.” Yes, you and I do work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) by using the spiritual disciplines the Lord has given to us. But when all is said and done, growth within our hearts is ultimately a matter of his sovereign grace. In the end it is God who must work in me, both to will and to do his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). This reality leads me to rejoice again before God’s throne, praising him for the goodness and power of his sovereign grace.
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