Smile

I must say I have heard rumors that there are complaints that I have all the coolest stuff on the planet and it seems unfair. Who this person is I will not reveal….but I wonder if there are more than one haha. Oh well it so happens this weeks message shared by Pastor was on the commandment, Thou Shall Not Covet

So what should I say? Don’t covet me? Hahaha. No I’m writing this post actually to really thank God for His provision on my life. I must say though that this is not an attempt to make anyone feel guilty. It is my attempt actually to contradict the popular ‘prosperity gospel’ that is going on around. I feel that they have a warped up sense of prosperity. You see in contrast to¬† my blessings, I have come to realize that there is a huge responsibility that accompanies it. I had to learn very carefully what it means to not covet, not be greedy and be contented.

How we wish we could smile like this everyday because we have everything we want

It all started when I was a young boy. Coming from a poorer background we never had the things ‘we dreamed of’ in many ways. What I didn’t realize though is that we never lacked anything. I grew up always wanting to have a little more. I mean while others were having their pianos, I was just having a cheap keyboard (the best my parents could afford and I thank them). Clothes were predominantly hand-me-downs (until today, it is such). I had envied many who had the best and yet do not fully utilized what they have. Wondered why I was not given that sort of privilege.

My brother probably had it worse of than me having what is leftover from me. I thank God he still loves me and not hate me. When I think back, I could have been more caring and shared.

Then it came to working life where I could have I must say anything I wanted in the sense. I started to be very self sufficient buying the things I want justifying those purchase with the fact I actually need them. Yet, I felt guilty inside. Something was not quite right. Generally I was generous, but I was protective of ‘my things!’.

Then I have to come into the realization that God’s blessings were really a responsibility just like every gift and talent I had. Slowly things came to the point where I had no money and all I had was God and the perception of others that I was well to do (because I was always having the latest gadgets and so on). Still I saw God’s providence in those moments.

I had to give up all I longed for inside. I had to search deep within me and seek after God. Then I realized something that I never realized for many years. I lacked nothing! I lacked nothing and every time I am committed to seek God, I had more than I dreamt of. I had to be contented to do the best with what I had and not seek for easier ways to fulfill what I wanted.

I had to be ready to lose everything and still be effective and not affected to a point that I cannot be of service to God. In order to gain anything, I had to be ready to lose everything (not exactly like Job though) like I did a few months ago (Apparently I have to also leave my future life partner to Him). When I understood that, I lacked nothing. Whether I had everything or I had nothing, I will lack nothing.

Soon thereafter, I may just have been so honored to have all I ever dreamed of. These of which you can see in my about me section. It hasn’t stopped. I still am learning all the time that I have to fight to be humble and contented. Yet another hard thing to do is rejoice in what I have. More so because people tend in our culture to misinterpret it as bragging. Also funny thing is that if you look like you have a lot, they tend to have this message that you think better of yourself than them.

This is the message that the prosperity gospel will bring about. A sense of hierarchy and higher spirituality just because we have more ‘so called blessings’. I disagree that these things I have in any case reflects my spirituality. It however is a testimony of God’s grace on a sinful man like me.

The other thing that I don’t like is accumulated wealth. I realize that when we have more, we tend to accumulate more than we need? It gets harder to give. Now I know, I must be ready to give anything I have to those who need it more than me. That doesn’t mean however that I will just give just because someone needs it more than me. There will always be someone needier. However what I meant is that if i could do anything to help and I don’t I am guilty of mismanaging what God has given to me.

So I think I must always have what I need. I may even have the best I need. But if I have more than I need, that is a blessing to give to others. This principle has saved and empowered many ministers to serve God even more because those that have followed this had directly impacted my life.

Those who have believed in me and blessed me all these times. Thank you. God has been faithful to provide all I need. Even more, He has given me all I dream of to be more effective for Him. I still have wants though without them, I am still happy. Recently I just needed somethings and again God provided. Here they are

The coolest Rudy Project sunglasses that are beyond and better than my dream of oakleys

An Ipod shuffle

I am still pretty much amazed. How God can be so kind? Because He is a good God. If these blessings however take me further from God. I think I pretty much have to get things right before God. I pray I will always remember to be contented like the message yesterday. To know that God is my provider. Indeed He is my sustainer and  now I realize being properous is simply having Him as my God not what I have.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. (Phillpians 4:11-14 )

Tags: lack, things