“People don’t want to work anymore.” You ever hear that? Sure you have. Heck, if you’re over the age of 50, you’ve probably said it.
You know in the Bible if a man wouldn’t work, he had a hard time eating. In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul asked the people of Thessalonica if they remembered that the rule is that if you don’t work, you don’t eat. That was prophecy folks. Even in Paul’s day, they were dealing with lazy people. I said lazy people, not handicapped or disabled. Lazy. Too many variations of that to cover here. But when a man won’t work, he becomes totally dependent upon the benevolence or the pity of others, to get fed. This was an even bigger deal if he had the responsibility of a family.
So work. Do what you are supposed to do. Sometimes, you have to go get it.
When the children of Israel were in the wilderness and said they were hungry, God sent manna from heaven. Do you remember that? Well, do you also remember that they had to go out and pick it up? God didn’t put the blessing directly in their mouths. They had to go to go get it.
God never said that He would be fair. The Bible says that He is just. The world would have us to think that we are entitled to have what everyone else has even if that means the ones that have, give us some of theirs. Now, giving and generosity is biblical. I don’t want you to miss that. (The Bible says, “Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion [force], for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].”) Sadly though, real life doesn’t work that way. The world says if you have two, I ought to have two. God says trust me and I'll provide enough for your house. Are you hearing me?
Sometimes, you have to go get it.
No one owes us anything. No one lives for us. No one dies for us. Everyone has to live for themselves and the sooner that we realize that our happiness nor anything else in life this side of heaven is dependent upon someone else to fulfill, we can be free from expecting anything but appreciating everything.
There is so much strength in that. There is so much power in that. God never said that He'd do for me what I am capable of doing for myself but said He'd be with me always and His being there sure makes it easier for me to do it.
Have you got enough today? Are your memories enough? Is the love in your life enough? Is the joy in your life enough? Is the energy in your life enough? Are the people in your life enough? Is the way that you feel and think about yourself...right now...enough?
No. Then get up and go get it.
Happy Friday!
-Pastor Butch
