Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind. - Ecclesiastes 6: 9 (NLT)
The world teaches us to never be satisfied with what we have. To constantly look to what others have. To always want more and more until we leave this mortal coil. The world believes that he who dies with the most toys wins but the reality is that is the opposite of what God teaches us:
So don't be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success. But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day. People who boast of their wealth don't understand; they will die, just like animals. - Psalm 49: 16-20 (NLT)
It is hard enough living in a world that runs opposed to God but when the church agrees with the world, life only becomes that much harder. Modern Christianity seems to also share the "most" toys sentiment. It is disguised of course with Christian sounding terminology and shouting out the name of Jesus but we cannot fool God. When we gravitate towards the bless me theology that has infected so much of Christendom we are essentially not enjoying what we have already been given, as the key verse discusses. When we take spiritual principles like sowing and reaping and turn them into carnal expectations, then we are essentially desiring what we do not have. The Bible says that God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Yet we constantly chase after more and more and more - as if God has maybe overlooked us.
Beloved, God loves to bless His children but sometimes we are simply operating within definitions He does not use. Can God bless us materially in this world? Of course He can - He is God. But if that is what we are looking for then my guess is He will not. If that is where our focus is then my guess is He will not. Do we truly appreciate what we have already been blessed with? We need to redefine blessings two ways. First we need to look at blessings as what God has already done for us. This will keep our hearts thankful. Secondly however, we need to define blessings in terms of eternal rewards - not temporal riches. God did not sacrifice His only Son so that for this brief glimmer we call life we can be comfy and wealthy. His sacrifice was for our eternal security not our earthly prosperity. God can do nothing for us the rest of our lives and He has already done everything by writing our names in the Lamb's Book of Life.
It is a meaningless existence chasing after the things of a world that is passing away, while the rewards of heaven await us who diligently serve the kingdom of God. No, I am not saying that everyone needs to take a vow of poverty. I am saying that we should enjoy what we have instead of desiring what we do not. I am saying what God has already said.
Rev. Anthony
