What if you got everything
you ever wanted in the whole world? I'm talking about material things here, not
people. It's kind of like when Genie comes out of the lamp in Aladdin and says
he will grant Aladdin 3 wishes. However, there are some rules. 1. He cannot kill anyone. 2. He can't make
anybody fall in love. 3. He can't bring people back from the dead. And 4. You
can't wish for more wishes.
Now obviously this is a little different because you get as many material things as you want. Wouldn't it be great to get that flat screen TV that you've been saving for? Or, get that house you've dreamed of. How about the pet, designer clothes, car, etc? I bet you would be so happy.
Actually, I don't think you would be happy. See we all have a problem with wanting to fill our lives with temporary fills. We save up for expensive things like cars, homes, clothes, etc. But, in the end, those things fade.
Now imagine you had everything you ever wanted but you did not have anyone to share those things with. You would be all alone with all of your things and have no companionship. Even my Kindergartners know that in order to survive living things need companionship.
Let me ask you this: why do you work so hard every day? I'm
sure you said something along the lines of: providing for your family. Well,
especially in America, we have this problem where we get so focused on
providing and making money that we forget to take time out with our family and
friends. It makes a lot of sense right? We work hard to provide for our family
but we don't give them the gift of our presence.
Speaking of giving in the book The Broken Way Ann Voskamp says: "If your living isn't about giving, then you're already dying. You've got to use the life you've been given to give to others." Not only are we called to give to our families but to others as well. Think about the people out there who never give and die alone. They are truly dying because they are not doing what we are called to do. We need to use this life we've been given to reflect God's glory.
What can we do to combat our inner thoughts about our desires? We can pray to God to ask him to help us to not be tempted by our desires. Am I saying going out to get a car for your family is wrong, no. But getting things you don't need that will keep you from helping others, and your time with God, is wrong. We can focus on reflecting God's glory. If we ask ourselves what would God want us to do? We will get our answer.
So, will you be a giver rather than a getter? Will you reflect God's glory through your actions? Will you give the gift of yourself to others?
2 Corinthians 4:18, 1 John 3:17, Philippians 2:4
Now obviously this is a little different because you get as many material things as you want. Wouldn't it be great to get that flat screen TV that you've been saving for? Or, get that house you've dreamed of. How about the pet, designer clothes, car, etc? I bet you would be so happy.
Actually, I don't think you would be happy. See we all have a problem with wanting to fill our lives with temporary fills. We save up for expensive things like cars, homes, clothes, etc. But, in the end, those things fade.
Now imagine you had everything you ever wanted but you did not have anyone to share those things with. You would be all alone with all of your things and have no companionship. Even my Kindergartners know that in order to survive living things need companionship.
Let me ask you this: why do you work so hard every day? I'm
sure you said something along the lines of: providing for your family. Well,
especially in America, we have this problem where we get so focused on
providing and making money that we forget to take time out with our family and
friends. It makes a lot of sense right? We work hard to provide for our family
but we don't give them the gift of our presence. Speaking of giving in the book The Broken Way Ann Voskamp says: "If your living isn't about giving, then you're already dying. You've got to use the life you've been given to give to others." Not only are we called to give to our families but to others as well. Think about the people out there who never give and die alone. They are truly dying because they are not doing what we are called to do. We need to use this life we've been given to reflect God's glory.
What can we do to combat our inner thoughts about our desires? We can pray to God to ask him to help us to not be tempted by our desires. Am I saying going out to get a car for your family is wrong, no. But getting things you don't need that will keep you from helping others, and your time with God, is wrong. We can focus on reflecting God's glory. If we ask ourselves what would God want us to do? We will get our answer.
So, will you be a giver rather than a getter? Will you reflect God's glory through your actions? Will you give the gift of yourself to others?
2 Corinthians 4:18, 1 John 3:17, Philippians 2:4
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