"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" (Hab. 3:17-18, NIV).
"...[A]nd the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions" (Obadiah v. 17, ESV).
"... Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich" (2 Cor. 8:9, NIV).
"... Freely give as you have freely received" (cf. Matt. 10:8).
We possess nothing, yet we make many rich! Sometimes a person has to come to the end of himself financially (e.g., bankruptcy, devasting illness, traumatic event, crisis, or natural disaster) before he realizes that he doesn't need a lot of his "stuff." The Bible states life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions! Contrary to modern thought, he who dies with the most toys doesn't win! Actually, riches are in the abundance of our possessions but in the fewness of our wants!
"...[A]nd the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions" (Obadiah v. 17, ESV).
"... Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich" (2 Cor. 8:9, NIV).
"... Freely give as you have freely received" (cf. Matt. 10:8).
We possess nothing, yet we make many rich! Sometimes a person has to come to the end of himself financially (e.g., bankruptcy, devasting illness, traumatic event, crisis, or natural disaster) before he realizes that he doesn't need a lot of his "stuff." The Bible states life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions! Contrary to modern thought, he who dies with the most toys doesn't win! Actually, riches are in the abundance of our possessions but in the fewness of our wants!
For example, when we move many realize when taking inventory that we find out we don't need or want a lot of our "stuff" anymore and toss it or give it away. There is a certain liberation getting rid of unneeded or unwanted belongings and paraphernalia or junk. We find out what is really important and of value. You hear of people in fires who say they lost everything, but money can replace much of what they are talking about. It is the things money can't buy that are really valuable.
Friends are few and hard to find, and if you have too many you don't know who your real friends are. You cannot put a price on friendship because friends come with benefits and there are always certain perks to knowing people--sometimes it's who you know that makes a difference in your life, not what you know. The Bible says we cannot buy love! Habakkuk mourned that his fields didn't bear fruit, but thanked God that he could still rejoice in the Lord despite it. When we lose everything it may be a time to reflect on the fact that all we really need in life is God and he will take care of us and supply all our needs.
Lacking no good thing is not the same as having everything: God blesses everyone in some ways, but some in many ways--for God is good to all. God never promises to meet all our wants or felt-needs but has vowed to meet our needs according to His will. Actually, the less we possess the more freedom we have (I'm talking about material goods that seem to accumulate over the years and some are even called packrats!). It is wonderful to know that you've got God and that's what really matters!
When Jesus said that it's more blessed to give than receive, He's not just talking about monetary gifts of alms to the poor or offerings to the church, but all our material possessions (and all blessings and provision) and of giving away our "stuff" to someone who will enjoy it and make better use of it than us--and they don't have to wait till they die to will things away. To him who would borrow, give! That's the Spirit!
Friends are few and hard to find, and if you have too many you don't know who your real friends are. You cannot put a price on friendship because friends come with benefits and there are always certain perks to knowing people--sometimes it's who you know that makes a difference in your life, not what you know. The Bible says we cannot buy love! Habakkuk mourned that his fields didn't bear fruit, but thanked God that he could still rejoice in the Lord despite it. When we lose everything it may be a time to reflect on the fact that all we really need in life is God and he will take care of us and supply all our needs.
Lacking no good thing is not the same as having everything: God blesses everyone in some ways, but some in many ways--for God is good to all. God never promises to meet all our wants or felt-needs but has vowed to meet our needs according to His will. Actually, the less we possess the more freedom we have (I'm talking about material goods that seem to accumulate over the years and some are even called packrats!). It is wonderful to know that you've got God and that's what really matters!
When Jesus said that it's more blessed to give than receive, He's not just talking about monetary gifts of alms to the poor or offerings to the church, but all our material possessions (and all blessings and provision) and of giving away our "stuff" to someone who will enjoy it and make better use of it than us--and they don't have to wait till they die to will things away. To him who would borrow, give! That's the Spirit!
For instance, there is a joy in not just giving randomly, but to someone who will make good use of it and invest it for God's kingdom. We must realize that we are mere stewards of what God has blessed us with and everything actually belongs to God and is on loan! It has been wisely said that nothing really belongs to you till you are ready to let go of it! The more liberal our giving of all God's provision and blessings, the more thankful we prove ourselves in our receiving. For we are only blessed in order to be a blessing as God's conduits.
In the final analysis, we don't really possess our possessions till they are seen as belonging to God and us as stewards. To quote Saint Patrick: "...For it is in giving that we receive." Corrie ten Boom, after the Holocaust, said: "Hold all t[h]ings loosely." In sum, sometimes we all need is to be tested to see what's of real value to us and where we place our personal worth and what kind of appraisal we give of our lives, being asked to give of what we hold dear and affectionately (e.g., time, energy, money, property, etc.) and we find out the real reason for living outside the world of materialism--we will not be happier by merely possessing more "stuff." Soli Deo Gloria!
In the final analysis, we don't really possess our possessions till they are seen as belonging to God and us as stewards. To quote Saint Patrick: "...For it is in giving that we receive." Corrie ten Boom, after the Holocaust, said: "Hold all t[h]ings loosely." In sum, sometimes we all need is to be tested to see what's of real value to us and where we place our personal worth and what kind of appraisal we give of our lives, being asked to give of what we hold dear and affectionately (e.g., time, energy, money, property, etc.) and we find out the real reason for living outside the world of materialism--we will not be happier by merely possessing more "stuff." Soli Deo Gloria!