"Y.B.H.?"

 

“Y.B.H.?”

 

Years ago I had a job as an auditor for a retail inventory company. On one of my first jobs a fellow rookie and I had just finished counting an aisle of merchandise when a supervisor (who could never have been accused of being tactful) told us the area had been done “all wrong”. When I asked what had been done incorrectly I received no answer. In this and similar situations I’ve wondered how an error can be corrected if I don’t know what it is.

In my hospice position I was part of a group that was assigned to come up with ideas to bring in more patients. (Somehow it doesn’t seem right to “market” to those with limited life expectancies.) I made three suggestions but they were shot down by management because of the cost (which in each case was minimal). I’m not an economist but I’ve heard more than once. “You have to spend money to make money.” Is it any wonder that my former employer now serves about a third of the number of patients it once did?

In both these scenarios needed resources were lacking to achieve a positive outcome. But we can be thankful that God doesn’t operate this way—He provides “…everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us….” (2 Peter 1:3). How has He done this? Through His Word (“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the {people} of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16-17, emphasis added).

As an example, God said to His people, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). But He hasn’t left it to us to find this way on our own—He’s provided at least six resources to guide us: His Word (“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go….”—Psalm 32:8); His Spirit (“…he will guide you into all truth.”—John 16:13); discernment (“I want you to be able always to recognize the highest and the best….”—Philippians 1:10, Phillips); godly counsel (“…a wise {person} listens to advice.”—Proverbs 12:15); our life experiences (“,,,men of Issachar…understood the times and knew what Israel should do….”—1 Chronicles 12:32); the examples of others (“…everything that was written in the past was written to teach us….”—Romans 15:4).

A long-time believer had notations in his Bible’s margins, “Y.B.H.” When a friend asked him what it meant he responded, “Yes, but how?” As seen above, God in His grace has answered this question for us. Will I avail myself of it?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan