There are times when a man needs to just sit down and count his blessings.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Abe)
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”
–Philippians 4:11(NKJV)
——————————
“What ho! what ho!
this fellow is dancing mad!
He hath been bitten by the Tarantula.”
–Edgar Allen Poe
What is it that has bitten you? For instance, man has often been allured by gold. Some would say they have been bitten by the “Gold Bug” and they can’t stop searching for the substance and the way to wealth and riches. Have to make a dollar, then a dollar more, then more than a dollar. It goes on and on and on. But wealth is always seeming to elude them.
Whatever a person searches for and if they get it, they always want more, or the new model. A new phone comes out, a body already has a good one, yet they cannot withstand the wanting of a new one, with better features. But a sound system (remember those?) and a person wants a better one. It doesn’t matter what, man is never satisfied with what he has–or to be honest, few men are.
Are you telling me that you don’t want more? Have you ever played the lottery? Why, doesn’t God satisfy your need? Are you telling the truth about possessions? In my ethics class I would ask students to write down what they would save if they were in a burning house and only had the time to save three items. What would they be? What comes to your mind? However, that is not a real good question anymore, because most Americans can go out and buy whatever is destroyed, unless…
Remember the story Jesus told of the rich man (Luke 12:12-21):
“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
–Luke 12:20-21; Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
Are you hearing God’s warnings about priorities? What is important to you and then what are you doing about it? Let’s take a closer look at the rich man–see if you fit into any of these categories.
“What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the words of poverty. He says, ‘What should I do?’ He does not raise his eyes to God. He does not count it worth his while to gain for the mind those treasures that are above in heaven. He does not cherish love for the poor or desire the esteem it gains. He does not sympathize with suffering. It gives him no pain nor awakens his pity. Still more irrational, he settles for himself the length of his life, as if he would also reap from the ground. He says, ‘I will say to myself, “Self, you have goods laid up for many years. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”‘ ‘O rich man,’ one may say, ‘You have storehouses for your fruits, but where will you receive your many years? By the decree of God, your life is shortened.'”
–Cyril of Alexandria
I also recall the words of James, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (4:13-14, NKJV)
So what Tarantula has bitten you? What do you seek out of life? A person may be rich in gold and silver, rich in goods and homes, but poor in life. Some are too busy scratching their itch for wealth and then more that they forget to look at the blessings that God has already bestowed. What is the old saying, “As you go along the path of life don’t forget to take time to smell the roses”?
Regarding the rich and their wealth I would ask, are you really living life? Or are you like the miner, constantly looking for that strike, always wanting a little more? Our mission in life is to worship God. To recognize His character and seek to be more like Him. To love Him with our complete being (which is worship) and to love our neighbors. Don’t miss out of the little blessings of life in seeking something that is perishable.
“But they’ve never seen the northern lights,
They never seen a hawk on the wing,
They never seen spring on the great divide,
And they never heard ol’ camp cookie sing.”
–Michael Burton
And they’ve never seen ol’ Ira clog in the kitchen. Look for God’s blessings–enjoy them, now!
——————————
“What ho! what ho!
this fellow is dancing mad!
He hath been bitten by the Tarantula.”
–Edgar Allen Poe
What is it that has bitten you? For instance, man has often been allured by gold. Some would say they have been bitten by the “Gold Bug” and they can’t stop searching for the substance and the way to wealth and riches. Have to make a dollar, then a dollar more, then more than a dollar. It goes on and on and on. But wealth is always seeming to elude them.
Whatever a person searches for and if they get it, they always want more, or the new model. A new phone comes out, a body already has a good one, yet they cannot withstand the wanting of a new one, with better features. But a sound system (remember those?) and a person wants a better one. It doesn’t matter what, man is never satisfied with what he has–or to be honest, few men are.
Are you telling me that you don’t want more? Have you ever played the lottery? Why, doesn’t God satisfy your need? Are you telling the truth about possessions? In my ethics class I would ask students to write down what they would save if they were in a burning house and only had the time to save three items. What would they be? What comes to your mind? However, that is not a real good question anymore, because most Americans can go out and buy whatever is destroyed, unless…
Remember the story Jesus told of the rich man (Luke 12:12-21):
“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
–Luke 12:20-21; Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
Are you hearing God’s warnings about priorities? What is important to you and then what are you doing about it? Let’s take a closer look at the rich man–see if you fit into any of these categories.
“What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the words of poverty. He says, ‘What should I do?’ He does not raise his eyes to God. He does not count it worth his while to gain for the mind those treasures that are above in heaven. He does not cherish love for the poor or desire the esteem it gains. He does not sympathize with suffering. It gives him no pain nor awakens his pity. Still more irrational, he settles for himself the length of his life, as if he would also reap from the ground. He says, ‘I will say to myself, “Self, you have goods laid up for many years. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”‘ ‘O rich man,’ one may say, ‘You have storehouses for your fruits, but where will you receive your many years? By the decree of God, your life is shortened.'”
–Cyril of Alexandria
I also recall the words of James, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (4:13-14, NKJV)
So what Tarantula has bitten you? What do you seek out of life? A person may be rich in gold and silver, rich in goods and homes, but poor in life. Some are too busy scratching their itch for wealth and then more that they forget to look at the blessings that God has already bestowed. What is the old saying, “As you go along the path of life don’t forget to take time to smell the roses”?
Regarding the rich and their wealth I would ask, are you really living life? Or are you like the miner, constantly looking for that strike, always wanting a little more? Our mission in life is to worship God. To recognize His character and seek to be more like Him. To love Him with our complete being (which is worship) and to love our neighbors. Don’t miss out of the little blessings of life in seeking something that is perishable.
“But they’ve never seen the northern lights,
They never seen a hawk on the wing,
They never seen spring on the great divide,
And they never heard ol’ camp cookie sing.”
–Michael Burton
And they’ve never seen ol’ Ira clog in the kitchen. Look for God’s blessings–enjoy them, now!