Are you Lacking?

Phil Wainright

“Night and Day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” I Thess. 3:10 (Read 8-13)

“That which is lacking:” The word lacking means a deficit, a poverty: that which is behind, penury, or wanting. Remember Joshua who had walked with God many years, a godly and honorable man. I believe that he was one who had taken many victories for the Lord. He was one of the spies who brought back a good report, “We are well able to take the land.” After forty years he was still ready to take the land. Joshua 13:1, “...and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.” There was still more that God wanted to do in the heart of Joshua. There, was still much land to be possessed, yet some “lacking.”

In Daniel 5:27, Belshazzar is described as “Tekel,” meaning weighed. “Thou art weighed in the balances (a pair of scales) and art found wanting (deficient).” There was much more that God wanted to do in his life.

Often we may be tempted to compare ourselves with someone else, usually someone whom we consider less “spiritual” than ourselves, but the measure is not with one another! II Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing (weighing) themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

The measure is with someone else, “The measure is of the stature of the fullness of Christ”; Ephesians 4:13 (read 11-16). Notice what the measure is: it is Christ. When I consider these things, I realize that “there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.” God has some things to accomplish in my life. We know that God desires to make us into the image of His Son, Christ Jesus, Romans 8:28,29. He has no desire to make us look and act like one another. He does, however, have a tremendous interest in making us like Jesus. All that happens in our lives is for this purpose. To think like He does, to walk like He does, (our manner of life), and to talk with grace, in truth like He does. This work will take all of our life here on earth to accomplish.

“That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without (outside, the unsaved) and that ye may have lack of nothing.” I Thessalonians 4:12 God’s purpose is that we will lack nothing. I think of the Psalmist prayer, perhaps one of the more neglected prayers: “Search me, oh God, try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23,24. What did Paul want to do concerning that which was lacking? He prayed that God might “perfect.” How can we come to this level of maturity (Perfection)? Again, the standard is the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us consider five ways that I have noticed in Scripture.

1) By the Word of God: Consider God’s plan, II Timothy 3:14-17, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast heard and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

If you want to grow up in Christ Jesus, you must learn the Word of God. There is no substitute. You cannot take this out of the growth process and fully develop. It just cannot be! We need to know it for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction. God will correct us through His Word. A newborn child does not automatically do what is right: he makes mistakes and needs correction and instruction. Children may say things that are not right, and may have wrong desires. These things need correction. Children always want their own way, they want what they want when they want it. Those selfish tendencies also need correction. They want to do things the way that they want to do them. Someone must teach them the right way, So it is with us. We need correction and instruction. God uses His Word to do this. It is the means God is using to perfect us.

2) Through Godly ministers: We read in Ephesians 4.8-14 that God gave gifts unto men. He gave (to) some, apostles; and (to) some, prophets; and (to) some, evangelists; and (to) some, pastors and teachers; why did He do this? “For the perfecting of the saints...” These gifts are necessary and have an important part in the perfecting work that God is doing in our lives. We cannot do without them! I realize this more with each passing day, how much I need them!

3) Through prayer: “Night and Day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” I Thessalonians 3:10 (8-13). I believe we need to pray if we are to be “perfected.” We need to pray that God will help us understand His Word. To help us to know His will and purpose for our lives. If we do not, there will be a lack. We will not fully develop as God wants us to. We need to pray for other saints also. I am very thankful for the prayers of the saints; I have benefitted from them. Without their prayers, there would be a lack. I have been encouraged to pray for God’s people because of these things.

4) Through suffering: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, (establish), strengthen, settle you.” I Peter 5:10. A part of what God is doing in our lives is through suffering. Do you enjoy it? Probably not, but it is necessary if we are to arrive at perfection. I have often wished I did not have to go through some of the things that I have gone through. I again wish there were some other way. The all wise God, the creator of heaven and earth, knows what He is doing! Troubles and trials come our way and we want out. I have often wished I could spare others. There is no other way. God knows what is best.

5) Through patience: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, (lacking) wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4. The work that God is doing in our lives requires patience. If we are not patient in our prayers, the work will be lacking. If we are not patient in the hearing of the Word of God, the work will be lacking. If we are not patient with the ones who minister the Word to us, who often in the giving of the Word correct and instruct us, (they may not be aware of this), the work will be lacking. If we are not patient in suffering, (staying in the trials until God delivers), the work will be lacking. We will not develop as fully as God intended.

Where was the lack of which Paul spoke? “In your faith.” The body that I dwell in will never be perfect. Sin dwells in its members. There will always be a lack, that is just the way it is, and God knows that. Where does God want perfection to come? It is in our faith, our trust. He wants that to be fully developed and to reach a level of perfection. How can that be? The life that God has called us to live is to be by faith. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

It is our faith that is being tested. Luke 22:31-34 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” There have been many times in my life I have failed, but I have had one that has prayed for me, just as He did for Peter. It is Jesus Christ. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. I appreciate knowing that He is ever interceding. He’s praying, not that we won’t deny Him, or always do or say the right thing, He knows better. He is praying that my faith will “fail not,” that when I fall, I will again look to him.

“For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3. All God ever called on us to do is to believe Him. He wants to develop that faith. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. We need to learn the Word of God. “For we walk by faith, not by sight”: II Corinthians 5:7. We need to walk the walk of faith. There is no other way. Many walk by how they see things: if things appear right to them they think that they are on the right path. Not necessarily so, remember the verse we referred to earlier, “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting.”

“Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. This chapter is a wonderful chapter that talks about men and women who lived and walked by faith. They made mistakes. Their flesh was never perfect, but their faith was. They learned to trust the God that they served. There is great substance to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is on the one side of the balances, my life is on the other side of the balances, and there is a lack. Through the Word of God, changes are taking place. Faith in God is being developed and that faith is counted to us for righteousness. By fully trusting God the balances level because God sees Jesus in us. That alone is His will and purpose for us. The work is complete. He is satisfied. He is glorified.