The Holy Spirit recently reminded me of a story I heard my childhood pastor use in a sermon years ago. The story goes like this….There was a minister who began working at a new church. The first week the pastor went in and conducted the service as normal. He came back to find the only money that had been given in the offering that Sunday was the money he had placed from his own pocket. He foraged ahead and prepared for the next week. Again came up with the same result. After about 3 weeks of this same response from his congregants his frustration got the best of him. On the way home from church he began venting to his wife as his two small children sat in the back seat and played games. At one point the minister raised his voice a little in frustration and said, “I just don’t understand! Every week it’s the same thing. I put in a $10 bill and when I check the offering plates later the ONLY thing I find is the money I put in the plate!! It just frustrates me!!!” Not realizing his children were listening, his five year old interjected and said, “Dad, maybe next time, if you want more in the offering, maybe you should give more.”
You can peruse Facebook at any given time throughout your day and find so many people complaining about a myriad of issues. While I realize there are certain things in life we can not control I also realize there are MANY instances we reap the consequences of our own bad decisions. We like to blame our problems and issues on everyone else when it’s really our fault. We complain because we haven’t gotten that raise or job promotion we felt we deserved. We get frustrated that our relationship with our mate/family members isn’t what it needs to be. We grumble when our children act a certain way in public. We whine when we can’t feel the presence of God. Is it possible you didn’t get that job promotion/raise is because you didn’t deserve it? Could you have worked harder and proven yourself more worthy? Is it possible that it’s our fault there is an impenetrable wall between us and our family members/mates? Do we focus on other things rather than working on our relationships? Is it possible that it’s our fault our children are disrespectful to others and in public? Could it be they learned those bad habits from—dare I say it—me/you?!? Is it possible that you feel distant from God because you chose to do everything else instead of praying/reading your Bible for the past few weeks?
As stated above there ARE some things we have absolutely NO control over. But how much can we REALLY change that will bring a more positive result? When was the last time you looked in the mirror and really paid attention to how you were living your life? When was the last time you took an inventory of your personal relationships with those around you? What can YOU do to make things better?!? I encourage you to choose NOT to complain today. Rather, do something to change those negative things in your life. Luke 6:37-38 states, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (NIV) Do your best to live life in a way that would be pleasing unto God. Then allow God to work out the details of all that other stuff. It’s simple. Don’t like being overweight? Stop eating so much. Don’t like being in so much debt? Stop spending money. Want a better relationship with God? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!! [I’ve got to close this thing…I’m preaching to myself a little too much, LOL!!] Change what you can change and let God take care of the rest. What are you putting in? Because, most likely, that’s what you’re going to get back.