"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).
"...[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).
A. W. Tozer wrote of the Blessedness of Possessing Nothing. What he implied is that, like Abraham sacrificed his greatest prize (Isaac), we are to let go of our most valued) possessions and let God own everything--"The earth is the LORD'S and the fullness thereof" (Psalm 24:1). One of the richest men of his day was not preoccupied with his riches--they didn't distract his devotion to God. It takes more faith to be loyal to God during prosperity than during deprivation when we naturally turn to God.
"Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you. (John Greenleaf Whittier)
We often forget God when all is going well. Prosperity is no sign of God's favor, though it is a blessing: "... for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth" (Deut. 8:18). Corrie ten Boom said often that her secret was to always "hold tings loosely." The more attached we become to things the less place we have for God: He cannot pour out His blessings into hands already full! We must come to the realization that we are only stewards of what God has given us and will be held accountable. "What do you have that you didn't receive?" (Cf. 1 Cor. 4:7).
We have received our eye color by genetics just the same as our choice of career laid out by God's providence (cf. John 3:27, NLT), in knowing what's best for us in the long run(cf. Job 23:12, 14, Psalm 31:15 139:16). "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they are found trustworthy" (1 Cor. 4:2). "Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth'" (Deut. 8:17).
God blesses everyone in some ways, and some in all ways; this is because of the so-called "common grace" that He sheds on everyone as His creatures. No one can say God was against them! We all have much to be grateful for. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17).
The book of Obadiah mentions Israel finally shall "possess its possessions" (Obadiah 17). We don't want to be materialists: What this means is that they don't possess you! Who's in control? We use things and manipulate things, but we have relationships with and love people. We don't love things and use or manipulate people. We should not love material things period. We can appreciate and be blessed by them--but it is a misnomer to say we love them, a much-misused word in English.
St. Francis of Assisi said that it is in giving that we receive! Jesus also said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). If you give it up and it returns, it is yours.
In sum, we must learn to "let go" of what God has given us and give it as an act of devotion back to Him as a" sacrifice of thanksgiving" and dedicated to His service. Soli Deo Gloria!
"Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you. (John Greenleaf Whittier)
We often forget God when all is going well. Prosperity is no sign of God's favor, though it is a blessing: "... for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth" (Deut. 8:18). Corrie ten Boom said often that her secret was to always "hold tings loosely." The more attached we become to things the less place we have for God: He cannot pour out His blessings into hands already full! We must come to the realization that we are only stewards of what God has given us and will be held accountable. "What do you have that you didn't receive?" (Cf. 1 Cor. 4:7).
We have received our eye color by genetics just the same as our choice of career laid out by God's providence (cf. John 3:27, NLT), in knowing what's best for us in the long run(cf. Job 23:12, 14, Psalm 31:15 139:16). "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they are found trustworthy" (1 Cor. 4:2). "Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth'" (Deut. 8:17).
God blesses everyone in some ways, and some in all ways; this is because of the so-called "common grace" that He sheds on everyone as His creatures. No one can say God was against them! We all have much to be grateful for. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17).
The book of Obadiah mentions Israel finally shall "possess its possessions" (Obadiah 17). We don't want to be materialists: What this means is that they don't possess you! Who's in control? We use things and manipulate things, but we have relationships with and love people. We don't love things and use or manipulate people. We should not love material things period. We can appreciate and be blessed by them--but it is a misnomer to say we love them, a much-misused word in English.
St. Francis of Assisi said that it is in giving that we receive! Jesus also said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). If you give it up and it returns, it is yours.
In sum, we must learn to "let go" of what God has given us and give it as an act of devotion back to Him as a" sacrifice of thanksgiving" and dedicated to His service. Soli Deo Gloria!