Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm just waiting on the Lord" after they have prayed about an important decision or need in their life?
There is a great truth to be learned regarding this statement.
Psalm 33:18-21 18Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Waiting for the LORD builds your trust in him.
NIV Isaiah 64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. NIV James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord 's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
To wait infers you look for or expect.
Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Waiting on the Lord is a good thing. As we saw, it builds trust, patience, and excitement.
For the most part when people hear "you need to wait on the Lord," this is what they think of.
However, there is a deeper truth to waiting on the Lord that eludes many Christians.
Mark 3:7-10 7But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 8And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. 9And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 10For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
In verse 9 we have another occurrence of the word "wait". However, this word in the Greek means something different.
When people say, "I'm waiting on the Lord," we usually understand this as someone is patiently waiting for their answer from the Lord.
But that's not what the word wait means in Mark 3:9. And a lot of people get derailed because they are waiting on the Lord, but in reality they are just being idle.
The word "wait" here in the Greek is the word proskartereo which means, "to be devoted or constant to one, to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing, to be in constant readiness for one to wait on constantly."
There is a tremendous difference between waiting on the Lord and being idle. To be idle implies lazy, empty, and inactive.
Sometimes people who are waiting on the Lord are really just hollow. They may look and sound good but they lack believing service and action.
Matthew 12:33-37 33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
The word "waiter" is a good example. When you go to a fine restaurant you are greeted by the hostess and then brought to your table.
At which time the hostess will tell you so and so will be your waiter. When your waiter shows up for the duration of your time there he only has one thing in mind, and that is to be at your beck and call. He is there to serve you if he is a good waiter.
He will stand off to the side and watch you carefully. If your glass is empty, he's right there to refill it.
If you seem to be looking for something, he's right there to ask is there something you need.
He serves the meal and checks if all is to your liking. He goes out of his way to serve you and to make sure you have everything you need.
If you leave the table, before you return, he comes over and cleans the table and resets your napkin so when you return you are blessed to sit at a neat table. These are the things a good waiter does it's part of his job.
Matthew 24:42-51 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable describes the difference between a good and faithful servant and an evil idle one.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The word "steadfastly" in the above verse is the Greek word proskartereo.
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Here it's the word "continuing".
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Here proskartero is translated "continually".
Acts 10:7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
Strong's has it twice in this verse. Waited and continually.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Here again it's the word "continue".
To wait on the Lord is to be in constant readiness for one and to act immediately to the master's direction. It's to be intently engaged with.
To wait on the Lord is to continue with one accord in prayer and supplication.
To wait on the Lord is to continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
To wait on the Lord is to give yourself continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
To wait on the Lord is to pay tribute to God's ministers to tithe and abundantly share of your finances.
To wait on the Lord is to continue to be thankful.
To wait on the Lord is it takes courage, stamina, strength, and resilience.
To wait on the Lord is not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, not going around being a busybody, gossiping, tattlers, speaking things you should not.
To wait on the Lord is to be devout always, available always, attentive, and willing to serve your master.
If you have a need and you are waiting on the Lord to meet that need you may want to check and make sure you are in the right waiting mode to receive.
Are you waiting on the Lord or are you just sitting idle?
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ÿ