FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
I don't know if you've noticed or not, but there seems to be a lot of concern lately over the financial situation our country finds itself in right now. And, I don't feel that there is a problem with having "some concern" about this situation, however it is the "inordinate concern" over it that "concerns" me. So much so that I've decided to offer a little lesson for your consideration today that speaks to our allowing ourselves to be more concerned about this situation than perhaps we should be. In a moment I'm going to relate to you the words of an old college professor, but first let me provide you with our scriptural basis for our lesson.
"Then turning to His disciples, Jesus said, 'That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things.
Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?" Luke 12: 22-28 (NLT)
This is just my opinion here, but I don't see "disciples" today being so different from those of Jesus' day. We tend to worry about things to the point that we lose what I call our "Christian perspective." We look more at the "things" or the "accouterments" of our earthly lives than we do the really important thing: our "spiritual" lives. The scriptures just seem to tell us that if we get our "spiritual house" in order, our "earthly house" will follow suit. Now let's look at the lesson given by the old professor to some former students.
I ran across this little story some time back and saved it for an appropriate occasion and today is that occasion. It's entitled: The Wisdom of Hot Chocolate.
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them.
During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives and relationships.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups. Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor shared his thoughts.
"Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.
What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup...but you consciously went for the best cups. And soon you began to eye one another's cups. Now friends, consider this......
Life is the hot chocolate.... your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. Always remember this..... God brews the hot chocolate, He does not choose the cup.
The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have! Live simply - Love generously - Care deeply - Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!"
AND REMEMBER
"The richest person is not the one who has the most.
But the one who needs the least.
Enjoy your hot chocolate."
Respectfully submitted,
Get a wide variety of Bible commentary and Bible study materials at http://www.abiblecommentary.com today. There are even FREE text sermons - http://www.abiblecommentary.com/freesermons, FREE audio sermons - http://www.abiblecommentary.com/audiosermons, and a FREE on-line commentary on the book of Romans: http://bit.ly/3MRU5I.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.