What DO You Have?

Neal Pollard

Most of us could have a little more financial security.  Most of us are not driving the car of our dreams, living in the house of our dreams, or going on the vacation of our dreams.  We have relationship problems, work-related problems, health problems, and miscellaneous problems.  We've been hurt, disappointed, betrayed, and mistreated. We stress, worry, and fret about our country, children, parents, job, past, present, and future.  It's not heaven here, so there is plenty that is lacking if we're looking.

But, what do you have? People can complain under the most ideal circumstances.  It takes no talent or self-discipline.  James reminds us where every good and perfect gift originates (1:17).  Jesus says our gifts can be "running over" (Lk. 6:38), and how often they are!

Do you have breath today?  Do you have eyes to see God's beauty?  Do you have the blessing of hearing, able to detect laughter and chatter?  Do you have warmth from the cold, food for the stomach, refreshing water or even coffee or tea?  Do you have family around or near, if only in your heart? Do you have friends you can count on when you need them? Do you have those to love and those who love you? Do you have sunlight and stars? Do you have a great many conveniences that billions around the world would deem luxuries (like this computer)? Do you have a stove, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, blender, table, chairs, bed, couch, and running water?  Do you have the wherewithal to take a hot shower? Do you have a toothbrush? Do you have transportation to get where you need (or want) to be, right at your disposal?  Do you have music appreciation? Do you have pleasant memories? Do you have a bed upon which to lie each night? Do you have public services--police, fire and rescue, hospitals and doctors? Do you have freedom of choice and freedom from persecution?  Do you have a church home? Do you have a God of infinite power and care, a Spirit who guided men to reveal God's perfect and complete written will, and a Savior who loved you enough to give up His life for you?

If you do, and many of you do, you have a head-start on counting your blessings.  If you concentrate, you can easily quadruple the list above in nearly no time at all.  Perhaps we all need to practice more grateful thinking and remember what all we do have!

Blessed Or Spoiled?

 

No one likes spoiled rich people.  They act ugly, snooty, and are just ungrateful.  They act conceited and better than others.   However, before we start pointing fingers, it might come as a surprise that we are more like these people than we think.

When we take a look at our lives, there is no doubt we are all blessed richly.  In fact, we are so blessed we don’t even know all the ways we are blessed.  The more I considered this, the more I wondered if we are really blessed or if we have taken it to the next level and are just spoiled.  Some of us are spoiled and don’t even know it!  So, what’s the difference between being spoiled and blessed?  The difference is attitude.  A blessed person is one who receives what he or she wants but is adamantly gracious and thankful.  A spoiled person is one who has everything he or she wants but isn’t grateful and expects such exquisite treatment. 

In America, many of us have become spoiled.  We complain when the room temperature is two degrees higher or lower than we want.  We get grumpy because we are hungry since we missed a meal, or sometimes even because we didn’t get enough to eat even though we had three meals and a snack during the day.  We complain about clothes fading or not fitting just right and sometimes throw them out.  Most of us have never gone a single day without food, clothing, and shelter unless we were sick or just chose to deprive ourselves.  We have come to expect this exquisite American lifestyle that many people in the world will never experience.  God has blessed us abundantly, but sometimes we aren’t thankful for what we have because we just expect it to be there.  As a result, we become spoiled.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, many are focused on being more thankful.  Our preacher delivered a phenomenal sermon about living the attitude of thanksgiving, which he called “Thanksliving.”  Facebook has been overflowing with people participating in the “30 Days of Thankfulness.”  There have been classes, articles, prayers and thoughtful conversations centering on this attitude.  All of this has been wonderful.  We can’t let this Christlike attitude die with the turkeys after Thanksgiving.

All of our physical and spiritual blessings come from God, even the small ones (Ephesians 1:3; Matthew 7:25-34).  As we distance ourselves from the holidays, let’s continue to be thankful and not develop a spoiled attitude.  After all, many of our blessings can quickly vanish (Job 1-2).   Let’s always remember to be thankful.  We close the beautiful words of 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, and a great example of the right attitude towards blessings: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.  Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth.”