More than Enough
Every Good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of
lights in whom there is no change or shifting shadow. James 1 __
One day I came home from
work. I had been out to eat and had some scraps for the dog. I put
them in his bowl and then let him in. I tried to show him the bowl
with the treats in it, but something else had caught his eye. He was
pawing under the edge of the washing machine. I leaned down to see
what he was doing, just as he pulled out a dried crust of bread and
started chewing on it. I picked him up and set him in front of his
bowl where he finally saw the scraps and enjoyed them wholeheartedly.
Goofy dog, I thought. I have a feast for you and you’re digging
around for dried out, old bread. Isn’t it great that humans are so
much more advanced than dogs?
OK, how advanced are we
really? We have learned to ask God to meet our needs but we fail to
accept his lavishness. Ephesians 3:23 says God can do immeasurably,
exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we can ask or even imagine. He
owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He has called us his children
and invited us to come boldly before his throne that we may receive
grace in our time of need. I am not talking about prosperity gospel,
here. I am talking about attitude. We settle for less than God wants
us to have. I was convicted at one point that it is just as easy to
ask God for more than enough as it is to ask for just enough. It was
not an easy transition. I had become used to sneaking in the back
door of the throne room and peeking out from behind a tapestry. I
thought if I was really quiet and didn’t make any fuss maybe no one
would tell me to leave. It was not all about material things either.
It was about healing for me and others. It was about forgiveness and
it was about being able to pour out my tears to a loving father. I am
still leaning day by day, but I want to keep on learning. At a
retreat last week, one of the speakers had been on a trip to France.
She said that those people know how to eat. She described beautifully
set tables and abundance. If she put her glass down and turned around
to talk to someone, when she turned around her glass was full again.
It impressed on her that this is the provision that God wants for us.
He wants us to be continually in expectation of His blessings, like
children who have no fear that their needs will not be met.
A preacher tells a story of
a couple that saved all their money to go on a cruise. To save money,
they brought crackers and cheese to eat. After a couple of days, the
steward asked them why they hadn’t been to meals. They explained
that their situation and he told them that all meals were included in
the price of their tickets. After that they fully enjoyed all the
ship had to offer them. God wants you to be His child. He wants you
to accept the gifts and blessings he has for you. Have the courage to
accept his good and perfect gifts, rather than digging in the world’s
dump for dried out husks.
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