"The material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done--
indeed too much." Exodus 36: 7
Enough in the sense of not needing more. A big Thanksgiving dinner leaves us feeling we have had enough. But usually we want more. Rarely are we 'filled up' in the areas of life that really count--areas like love, contentment, material goods. Did I say areas of life "that really count"? Can we have enough love; when is enough too much and we stray into obsession or spoiling our kids? Material goods--we have all heard the sermon about 'fixing our wanters' and learning to differentiate needs from wants. Are we good at practicing what we preach or have heard preached? Not so much.
This verse in Exodus tells that the people had given so much to the building of the tabernacle and the outfitting of the priests, etc. that they had to be asked to stop bringing offerings. These were the same 'stiff-necked' folks that had built the golden calf and whined to Moses for bringing them into the desert. You'd think that they would have learned, but some continued to sin and want more or maybe just different stuff than they had. Yet God renews His covenant with them through Moses' mediation and they start again with grateful hearts to give to and serve the Lord. Were they just overwhelmed that they had another chance? Were they fickle? Were they ignorant of God's power and mercy? Were they just afraid?
The idea of ENOUGH strikes me as interesting in the arena of faith and not just material things or offerings. I whine when I don't have what I want to eat or enough money to comfortably pay the bills and buy something I want but don't need. I worry about big things (to me) like wells drying up and water pumps breaking (to the tune of almost $900 to repair). I fret over prayers prayed for healing and safety for my friends and family. All the while, I encourage others with Scripture and more prayers said on their behalf. Where is my faith? More aptly--don't I have ENOUGH faith? When is enough ---well just that--enough?
So, I put it out there for you to muse and ponder. Hopefully your pondering will include some Bible and prayer time. Ask God to "increase our faith" like the apostles did in Luke 17. Good idea. Listen for God's voice and direction that you might "grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3: 18). Only in knowing Him would it seem that we have any shot at all of learning sufficiency, contentment, love, grace and all the other fruits of His Spirit. We know we will have a good understanding of ENOUGH when we get to Heaven, but I pray that we would seek His Face and come to a better understanding of ENOUGH here and now. Then we can reflect the peace of Christ to those so hungry to know the Good News.
Oh, and in thinking about the Children of Israel in the Exodus story, I think that they were just like us. They were faithful on and off. Scared sometimes, confused, mixed up because of the cultures that surround them with false gods, ideologies, and promises. Impatient....easily upset by circumstances. Those folks in Exodus sound a lot like me. Again I pray to have ENOUGH faith that I would give my all unto sufficiency and even until there is too much--at least some of the time. Forgive me, Lord, when I fail. Thank you for your constant mercy and grace. xo
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