God on Display
A Christian song often heard on the radio contains the line “I’ve got Jesus. How could I want more?” But we do want more. We accumulate and stockpile rationalizing “They were on sale.” It seems as if our desire for more never ends. Deuteronomy 8 (MSG) cautions us to “Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in . . . see more and more money come in╤make sure you don’t become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God.” Has wanting more replaced your wanting Jesus?
Mythbusters
We can easily agree on extremes. One hundred degrees is too hot and ten below zero is too cold. But somewhere between the extremes is a comfort zone. Although this range varies individually, it’s where we function best. By avoiding the extremes, we avoid frostbite and heat stroke. In the same way, we need to find our financial comfort zone. Being lazy and irresponsible is unacceptable. But the constant race for more is a race you can’t win. Solomon calls it “chasing after the wind.” We check the temperature and make needed adjustments. Now is a great time to do the same with our work and money.
Lessons Learned
Benjamin Franklin said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Being involved in the process of learning tends to make the lessons, even difficult ones, easier to recall. Abraham learned about his faith when God commanded him to sacrifice his son as “a burnt offering.” (Genesis 22) Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son when God said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy.” God then provided a ram for a sacrifice. It’s a powerful and hard test to say yes to God when everything else inside says no. These are the hard lessons that teach us about ourselves.
More than Enough
All things are possible with God but not with man. Reliance upon God requires our humility and recognition of His power. When Jesus and His disciples were with a great crowd one day, the people had not eaten and faced a long walk home without food. Jesus had compassion on them and went to work. He took two fish and five loaves of bread and fed the 5,000 people, not counting women and children. What they needed from Him, they received. Surely, if He can do that, He can take care of our needs.