We live in a world that bombards us with advertisements. Buy this! Enjoy that! You deserve to indulge. I find myself being tempted by most of the ads. If I use this lotion my skin won't age! This food will keep me healthy. The ads remind me of my desires. The desire for acceptance. The desire for beauty. The desire for attention. However, upon buying the products my desires only become deeper and greater. I find myself wondering, is it ever enough? When does it end? When do the ads become ugly billboards that prevent me from seeing the beauty in God's creation? When do I turn off the television and spend time with God in His creation? When do Gucci and Coach bags fade away and our true selves shine through? What are we trying to do when we indulge in these products? Why is my desire to own just one Louis Vuitton purse and other expensive accessories continually telling me to indulge? Who am I trying to be? And yes, a Mercedes Benz would be nice to drive. how do I get rid of these desires and be real with WHY I want these things. After reading 2 Corinthians 8 I have been very convicted. Verse 15 references to Exodus. The Israelites were given exactly what they needed. "And when they measured it by the omar, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each gathered as much as he needed." Exodus 16:18.
Is this another sign of God's greatness? I may not be called to live the way anotehr does- but I have the opporunity to live live a life that has neither too much nor too little.
So I say good-bye to the dream of a Mercedes and hello freedom! For God will not only meet the desires of acceptance, beauty, and health, but he will meet my material needs as well. I hear his voice in my purchases, but it is my decision that keeps me either bonded in chains or frees me up to a life of "enough".
This is one of th emost liberating ideas of my walk with God. Knowing His love for me and His grace is one thing, but stepping into freedom and believing He WILL provide me with all that I need is another. May I continually trust Him and walk into freedom. May I share with others that God knows what is their "enough". He knows the needs of all and promises to provide.
Yet we must remember that His way of providing may not be the same way we imagine. Lord, forgive us of our desires!
I later read
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to be good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Thus I come to a satisfying conclusion. If I look to meet my desires by indulging in them and continually seeking to fill empty holes with purchases then I find that NO it is NEVER ENOUGH. However, if I surrender myself and sell all that God is asking me to get rid of (both material and not material) and be like the man described in Eric's sermon then YES I will come to the place where it IS ENOUGH. God is more than enough. And he promises to provide me with not any more nor any less than what is enough.
May we continually seek to live in a lifestyle that is pleasing to the Lord. May we enter into a life that is full of promises and let go of our desires.
Thank you Lord, for freeing me from a life that promises me that it will never be enough. |
