When is enough, enough? What is wrong with us? Does selfishness drive every area of our lives? There are our wants and our needs. Just two choices we should examine. Our society has put incredible pressure on us to take, get, buy, or gift our very hearts desires. Many of us have two of everything it would seem. Why do we do this? Why are our lives driven by our wants rather than our needs? Of course then we complain that we don't have this or that. Perhaps I'm the only one...but I don't think so.
Where and when I grew up life was focused on our needs. We lived with so little that we didn't think of wants for the most part. We didn't travel on vacations. We didn't have vacations! We didn't have the newest styles and trends. That which we did have was for the most part hand me downs. Yes, we handed down our clothes to those younger than us. We grew 98 percent of our food. We very rarely went to a restaurant as there were 9 of us. That would present a very big bill now. I imagine it wasn't small at that time either.
Living on both ends of the spectrum has really been whiplash for me. On the one end we had little and didn't complain. While on the other end we had lots and weren't satisfied bringing our complaints to whomever would hear. Why isn't what we have good enough? Because we have redefined the words "wants" and "needs". Our true needs for food, shelter and clothing has expanded with the increased availability of "stuff."
When I tell my story of growing up on a farm in North Dakota, walking the 1/4 mile to country school and having out houses people look at me like I'm some kind of liar. Should I tell a tale of having excess in my life, most people wouldn't even blink an eye. There is little I need in my life or want. God has been all I need. He has also been responsible for making sure some of my wants have been met. When is enough, enough?
There is much talk in the media and it's various mediums about the horrific plight of the homeless, third world countries and the children who are victims. I can't even count the number of charities that call me several times a year. Celebrities are constantly urging us to give of our little while they live with their lots. Share the wealth (of other people) has been a recent cry in order to bring up the common people. Am I one or the other? Many of those who beat this drum don't give as they could and it's questionable if they are Christians acting on God's behalf.
Yes, it's enough and more! We should change our focus. All of us. We should look at all that we have from $.20 to millions as ALL of it belonging to God. That's what it really is. It's God's stuff. We are blessed to have a portion of his goodness and grace. Yet we don't release what we have to be used by him. Think of the last time you obeyed that still small voice inside your heart and gave because you were told to do so. Christian! Wake up! It's no time to sleep. It's time to bring Christ to a needy world. Those who have a lot physically have little spiritually. It's also true that the needy don't know God's bounty. We should NOT think of this as a competition. It's not a competition. We aren't working for the gold, bronze or silver. It will not alter your status as a believer or not.
You don't think you have much? Try loading all that you have into a 72 Ford pickup! How many trips to that new place will you need to make with a pickup. Try 3 moving van trips. That's more like it. How about your blessings? You can't overlook them. If you aren't overwhelmed by the provision of God daily, you must be dead. Think of the delicate balance of oxygen in our world. Who of us could cease breathing and still live?
This is not a plea for you to give. It's a plea that is meant to wake us up to the plight of "us". Finding a way to stop our wants and not increase our needs is truly what God would and does want. Perhaps giving away our excess is just what God has ordered in order for us to truly be thankful. Take a deep breath and tell me if you like it or not!
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