Let's teach them how to be ungrateful for God's blessings. Let's teach them that being self-sufficient is what it's all about.America runs on self-sufficiency. Our built-in freedom sets the stage for us to work hard and become successful. It also tempts us to think we did it without God's help.
The interesting thing about mission trips to less developed countries is that we invariably hear:
These people have nothing, yet they are so thankful for everything and so exuberant in their praise for God.Though their countries are not hard-wired for freedom, they are the most free people on earth--free to love and praise God out of their scarcity.
DIY (do-it-yourself) is breeding ground for forgetting God. An abundance of blessings is temptation ground for shifting into self-admiration gear.
Psalm 19:
God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work.God coaches us on remembering him by placing us in seasons of need. It appears to be a trademark of a God-economy that a community of believers will either see one of their own or someone outside the church needing serious help, placed squarely in our path of possibility.
Our path of possibility is our resource base, designed by God to be offered freely to help the ones in their season of need. When we hold on too tightly to our resources, thinking that so-and-so wouldn't be in need if they had made better decisions, we stumble over our own arrogance. I wonder if it doesn't move us up in the when-will-it-be-our-turn-to-receive line.
Receiving help when it is our turn is pure grace. It opens our eyes. My goodness, if anyone did not need the cleansing power of baptism, it was Jesus. Yet he went to John the Baptist and asked him to baptize...God (in the flesh). When he came up out of the water:
The skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit--it looked like a dove--descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life."Humility keeps the compass of our heart pointed True North...toward the author of all blessings and resources.
Is it your family's time to receive? Do so with grace and humility. You just may hear God say:
This is my family, marked by my love, delight of my life. See how they choose to receive help in their season of need.Then America can run on thanks.
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