09.06.10
Thankfulness & Glory
Lately, I've been reflecting on the "taken for granted" luxuries we live with every day. Water runs from pipes and faucets in pretty much every building you could enter... Electricity powers lights, toaster ovens, and battery operated baby toys... without much effort. We don't have to wait for word of mouth to reach us to tell us the news, because it gets delivered daily to many homes in their auxiliary mail box... We are blessed!
Even looking back at those few short examples, my mind tells me... well sure Rob! Everyone lives like this... If you really want "luxury" you should be talking about expensive cars, cruises, or caramel corn.
Nope. I'm talking about the every day luxuries that we take for granted.
In a not-so-distant land, children are sent out daily to gather semi-potable drinking water and carry it back to their family for group consumption. Wounds and illness goes untreated for a lifetime (perhaps shortened) due to lack of medical help and/or accessibility. A "job" is a luxury, because work-able adults spend most of their time scavenging the land for any last scrap they can find of food.
There is extreme poverty in this world.
And yet, we (me), fall victim to the greedy mind-frame that our culture teaches us: The world owes you nothing. Go out and get it. True power comes from wealth and big toys. He who dies with the most toys wins. We live in a culture where we can quickly (and conveniently) get whatever we want... NOW!
Want a prepared hot meal? Stop into a restaurant.
Want a peck of fresh apples? Stop into an apple orchard.
Want to be entertained? Stop by a super-store and pick up a video, or game, or puzzle.
With all this hustle and bustle... our natural "default" focus quickly gets fixed on this insatiable hunger for MORE MORE MORE!
What happens when it all comes crashing down?
You lose that job.
Your furnace and central A/C go out.
A family member / loved one passes away, unexpectedly.
The prognosis comes back fatal...
Where do you chose to turn?
Psalm 50:14-15 (New Living Translation)
14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
15 Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.”
The psalmist felt the same angst as we do.
Be thankful constantly.
Do what you say you will do.
Turn exclusively to God for good and bad in your world.
He promises to rescue you and be there for you.
In this, we will fulfill our life's calling (also see John 17:4)
Make a decision today, that MORE will NOT drive your motives. Linked your wagon up to the living source of life, and choose thankfulness over greed. Thank God (the Giver of all good things) for what He has given you. And when the clouds get dark, lean on to Him for your source of life and strength. In this, you will honor Him, and perhaps find this to be a greater LUXURY than you've ever known.
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