Travel to different countries, cruises, vacation houses, cars, latest gadgets, high-paying job, etc. The list just goes on, right? I know at some point in our lives we all dream to have or experience these things.
When I was in high school, my friend (she knows who she is) and I had this dream of going to college in the US and be able to get a job after and all those stuff. We really didn't know how that would happen. Well, it was just a dream. But you see, the dream of going to US was not impossible for God. When I got my US tourist visa years ago, I was really overwhelmed. My dream didn't happen the way I thought of it when I was in high school, but it came true. That moment, I realized how God could easily make things happen if He really wants to. God is not a “kill-joy”. He wants to bless us. He is our joy.
The question is – how do we respond when God has blessed us so much? And, I'm speaking of material blessings.
Deut 31:20 - "For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant. “
I realized that God does not test us only through trials or problems. He also tests us through prosperity. And even the Israelites whom God has chosen even failed Him. How about me? How about you?
The reality is, we are easily drawn back to God when we are so down to the mouth because of problems. And, we are easily drawn away from God when we are enjoying the abundance of life. I'm not sure about you, but I'm guilty of this sometimes. And with how many times I've fallen, these are things that I've been learning.
Putting God first above all things. Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.”
How? Constant fellowship with God through reading and studying of His Word and prayer. I've realized how important it is to have that every day communication with God because it makes us focus more on the Giver and not on the gifts that we are receiving.
Practice good stewardship (even on the little things that God has entrusted us).
Matthew 25: 22-23 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' “
How? There are a lot of things that God has entrusted to us and one of them is Treasure. We could start with our tithing. A ten percent is always a good start but God is not concerned with the amount. He is concerned with the motive of the person giving it. Are we giving our first to God? Or, are we giving what is left? Learn to budget as well. I've once been in a pile of debt that most of my salary went to paying for it. That wasn't good at all. So, spend wisely, have a savings and be debt-free.
Be a blessing! Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
How? Let's hold on to our possessions loosely so that it will be easy for us to let go and share them to those who need it. Let's not forget to bless our family and our church because sometimes we have helped a lot of people already but we forget them.
All of those are easily said than done. But, the first one will always get us to the rest. Each day is always a walk of faith to God who empowers us with His grace. Let's never forget the Giver of all!
Let me leave you this from the sayings of Agur:
“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the Lord?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.”
- Proverbs 30:7-9
May God always get the glory.
