Lesson for 8-2-11
Inspired by Joyce Meyer
Never let anything you own become so important to you that you can’t walk away from it or let it go if God asks you to.
There are 1,420 minutes in every day- how do you spend your time?
Men don’t have any problem at all spending half a day watching football or playing 6 hours of golf.
Ladies? We don’t have any problem spending 3 hours at the spa or 4 hours out for drinks with the girls, do we?
But if we are asked to spend one hour with God we think, “when am I going to find time to do that?” Many of us only think about God when we have a disaster.
If you REALLY made it a priority, you would wake up a little bit earlier to spend time with God. We put time into what’s important to us! All he is asking for is a relationship with YOU… he chose YOU.
3 things to put on a sticky note and post to your fridge, car dash or office desk
- If you do not put God first with your time, NOTHING ELSE WILL WORK OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
- Develop a habit to NEED God 1 hour every morning and watch your life flourish.
- Stop trying to work God into your schedule and work your schedule around God.
1 Timothy 6:17 “Things that take us away from God”
*Perspective: If you have food, a home, clothes, running water- you are considered rich.
He is not saying there is anything wrong with having an abundance, but make sure you don’t put your hope in “the stuff.”
People are working way too hard today on way too much stuff. We are addicted to “things”.
Can anyone relate to this?! I don’t have enough time for God because I need a second job to afford my mortgage and I have to work overtime to afford my new fancy boat. Then I get grouchy and tired so my marriage is in trouble…etc. etc.
Do you get it yet?! Here’s the point… if God comes first in your fancy home or a family worships God together in their big boat, then you are using your “things” to honor Him. If a friend calls and needs a ride and you pick him up in your Maserati, then you are using your “things” for Christianity. Things can be used to bring life to other people, but the thing itself will not bring life to you.
The world abuses people to get things. We need to start using things to bless and minister to people. Everything you own needs to be available to God.
The Bible says: Do not put your hopes in uncertain riches, but keep your hopes in God.
This brings me to a story…something that happened to me this week. On my way home from taking Chloe to Project H.O.P.E. in Pontiac for her heartworm treatment I saw a homeless man on the corner of Telegraph. He held up a sign that said “Homeless family. Hungry. Will work for food.” I was stopped at a red light and I was in the wrong lane to hand him any money so I turned around and handed him $1.50. He was wearing a cross on his wrist and said “God Bless You”. I smiled and drove away.
But his face stuck with me. I had another $20 in my purse but I only gave him $1.50 because I thought, “what if he uses the money for drugs?” and “I need the cash to get lunch for me & Kyle”. Our society and the news has taught us to be distrustful and selfish. I put myself first and questioned this man’s motives.
So the next day I was driving with Kyle and I told him the story. I decided if I saw the man again I might give him more money. And then I took it one step further… “What if we hire him to pull our weeds? Do our yard work?” I certainly need help around the house and we could feed his family! You can imagine the reaction Kyle gave me (insert quizzical expression here).:)
But here’s the point: I wanted to use my “things” to help this man. Rather than dwell on what the world has taught me (Don’t trust this man’s motives. Be fearful- he could steal from you!), I decided to react with what God has taught me. We are given things to return them as blessings.
That is why I continue to open my house and my heart to dogs in need. I was blessed with “things”, now it is my turn to return that blessing.
Sometimes God “tests” us. It’s not about the homeless man or the dogs or anything else… it’s a test. WiIl you give when you are called upon?
Joyce Meyer shared a great thought, something that I hope will stick with you this week: “If you keep something after God tells you to give it away, it will stop bringing you joy.” We are designed to give. Go out and give back today.
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