Read: Genesis 3:1-7 and Philippians 4:11-13
Anyone have a teenager? It is not until you do, that you realize God has a sense of humor! We seem to have the most interesting conversations with our son. At the end of them, my husband and I wonder how we manage from day to day since neither of us has any intelligence. One of the numerous discussions around here is about the lack of possessions that our son has. The parents of all of his peers have unselfishly lavished on their kids everything that their hearts desire. We, on the other hand, have played Scrooge and uttered "Bah Humbug" at all of his requests.
During one of his seasons of discontent, he was in his room. The closet doors were flung wide open, and he was just standing there staring in. The shelves were full to over flowing; the racks, burdened with hangers, held clean, pressed clothing. His face was distorted and hand gestures indicated that there was a problem. When his father passed by the room he blurted out, "I don't have any clothes." Ty, being the diplomat that he is, casually entered the room and asked, "what do you mean?" He then found out that all the other kids in school had the latest fashions in all the latest styles. He, on the other hand, did not. He was feeling slightly disadvantaged because it was not the same case for him. He then went on for about a half-hour telling his father how unfair we are. It seems that we have plotted to destroy him. We don't get him all the things HE wants. As a matter of fact, we don't get him ANYTHING!
Ty quietly took him by the shoulder and guided him from room to room. Upon entering each, he had our son look around. "What in here do you see that belongs to you?" He reluctantly answered the question. They continued the process until the whole house was covered. Ty then went into a discussion about how we tend to concentrate on what we do not have. By doing this, we miss seeing all that we do have.
Satan had Eve looking in the "closet" at the one thing kept from her. She was concentrating on that rather than on the bounty that God had set before her. Whenever we do that, we become discontented. The enemy uses this to make us feel that God has deprived us of something, that He is somehow unfair.
I watched a video entitled "The Martyr's Cry" and saw Christians that are being persecuted in Sudan, Indonesia and China. In an attempt to cause them to denounce Christ, some of them were thrown into the fire. They would not. The men pulled up their shirts and showed the flesh that had been permanently scarred and related their sad stories through interpreters. What most impressed me, though, was not that they had survived the assault, but that they were praising God. They were so grateful for salvation and for the knowledge that Jesus loved them and had died for them. A woman from the Hmong community made the most profound statement of all. She said, "Jesus was willing to suffer and die for me. No matter what they do to me, I will not betray Him. I am willing to die for Him.
I became so convicted as I watched this film. "The Martyr's Cry" is not a video of some past era. This is happening to our brothers and sisters today! My problems paled in contrast to what others must endure. How many times have I whined and complained about some trivial thing that isn't going right in my life? How many times have I failed to cherish my freedom to worship God? How many times have I "looked in the closet at what I don't have" and failed to see the bountiful blessings that the Lord has given to me?
Christians should be the most joyful people on earth. We have a hope that no one can take from us, an assurance of inheritance that was unselfishly purchased for us through the suffering and death of someone else - Jesus Christ. Let's not get so wrapped up in looking in the "closet" of our problems, that we fail to see and thank God for the numerous blessings He has poured into our lives. Let's purpose to be a grateful people.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord. Amen
