A wealthy man took his son into the rural countryside with the sole purpose of showing how impoverished people live. The trip resulted of concern that the son was showing unhealthy signs of an ungrateful and reckless spirit. After spending a day and night on a tenant farm with dirt floors, no running water or electricity, the father asked his son how he felt about the trip. The young man answered that it had been exceptional and he had learned a great deal!
Anxiously the father asked for details as to what his son had learned and was surprised to hear: ‘I saw that we have a dog at home and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden but they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have the whole horizon. Thanks Dad, for showing me how truly poor we are.’
It’s a rather interesting twist to what the father had desired to impart to his son. It’s really not what you have but how you look at it that matters. Let’s face it, the Pharisees knew the Word but missed the Messiah. Most of us have multiple versions of the Bible on our phones no less, walls of books and files of downloads, catalogues of worship music and videos; yet we’re more depressed and stressed than any generation before. Somehow, we seem to be missing a very real point. 2 Peter 1:4 says,’ For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you can become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.’ Peter is talking about not only the knowledge of the word but also the understanding of the word.
Remember, each person is a trinity. The body must have food and water for energy and to function in a healthy manner. The soul must receive love, security, praise and purpose for emotional maturity and the ability to maintain healthy relationships. We can have all of these and yet, if the spirit-man isn’t fed, a person will never mature as a Christian. (Imparting the Father’s Heart Course Manual)
It’s what He wanted for us….’life, and that we have it more abundantly.’
Deana
Awesome thought, really made me think!
Posted by: Aaron | October 12, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Amen Sis,I am so thankful for all I have.and I am thankful for a Pastor like you.I consider my life Rich because of people like you are in it.to have friends makes a man Rich. Thanks.
Posted by: Pat Gosnell | October 12, 2009 at 08:53 PM
What an awesome meditation! I try to listen to Turning Point w/David Jeremiah as much as I can and his message was based on the same scripture this morning, as well as the daily devotional. There was a great quote that goes right along with the thought of the body needing nourishment - both physically and spiritually:
"There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is every nourished by memorizing menus."
John Blanchard
God Bless everyone and let's get some nourishment!!
Thank you, Pastor Deana!
Posted by: Kevin Hubbard | October 13, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Kevin, I really like that ...'no one is ever nourished by memorizing menus.' But, I'd bet that more people can quote the menus of many restaurants better than they can Scripture....and truth be known, can probably decide what they want , when...rather than having an applicable command of Scripture when they need to apply it. Honestly, I feel if I could actually live by the Word, I'd be so much easier to live with! Thanks for responding, Deana
Posted by: Deana Kennedy | October 13, 2009 at 04:31 PM
About the myriad books and Bibles and everything else we have at our disposal...these are all good and well, but like everything else in life, only in moderation. All we really need is Christ, if you think about it. Thus, everything else becomes just extra. Icing on the cake, so to speak. Some icing is good. Too much, and we get overloaded and feel sick.
My point is simply this: There's nothing wrong with a little extra reading, but at the end of the day how and what we think should be drawn from ourselves within our own personal relationship with God, not somebody else's.
Posted by: Brandon | October 13, 2009 at 05:05 PM
Certainly, there's nothing like the real Thing (hope I don't offend) and there is nothing that can replace a real and honest relationship with the Father. I confess, as I look at one of many walls of books in our three office spaces, that this isn't a place where moderation is expressed in my own life. But I also don't mind saying that many (and yes, I've read them all) forced me to look deeper into myself and draw from that very relationship we're talking about. Often I find that I learn most from the ones I disagree with most; while it forced me to entertain a different perspective, it also forced me to articulate my own thoughts better. I found that people really are diverse in their learning styles; I'm not certain it's quite as cut and dry as getting it from the Book ourselves or through the help of another's insight (the sharpening of one another, even in a book)....putting whatever it is to practice is where I really falter. I know way more than I live up to and I have way more than I'm truly grateful for. You understand that I'm preaching to myself here, I trust. D
Posted by: Deana Kennedy | October 13, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man [or woman!] sharpens another.
Posted by: Kevin Hubbard | October 14, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I don't think I was clear enough. But no, I don't get offended!
I was just saying that we shouldn't rely on others to form our views and opinions. I had in mind that verse where we're told to test everything.
But I agree with both of you, Pastor Deana and Kevin. We can absolutely get stuff from other people as well. We just need to remember that we're all created as unique individuals, so it's going to be natural and even good for us to be different.
I just know that I used to get so consternated from reading so many other thoughts that I'd feel like I'd forgotten how to think on my own.
Great thoughts from you folks though. I should read the blog more often.
Posted by: Brandon | October 14, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Brandon,
Water runs deep in you, my friend. And you are so very correct about the need to test things, both in our spirit and what we know that we know, and among our peers and teachers. In fact, one of the main benefits of LifeGroups is being able to toss things out in front of people and get a reaction or response. I'm so guilty of going over things in my head and believing God agrees with me (did someone say 'vain imaginations'). But then when I see it played back on someones faces, it doesn't look so much like Him.
Posted by: Deana Kennedy | October 14, 2009 at 02:08 PM
Balance comes to mind when I read the comments...I think there has to be a balance between absorbing all the books, CD's, video's, commentaries, etc. out there and what we truly believe. It is easy to read a popular book and find ourselves adopting those opinions, especially when they aren't necessarily on right or wrong issues, but rather on new ways of looking at something, or someone's opinion...
But, getting back to the original post, "it’s really not what you have but how you look at it that matters." I think this certainly relates to the sometimes, seemingly excessive amount of books and opinions out there.
Because we can have a whole lot of knowledge and still not be any wiser and totally miss the Truth.
Posted by: Michael | October 14, 2009 at 03:05 PM
"Because we can have a whole lot of knowledge and still not be any wiser and totally miss the Truth."
I know I'm Johnny Come Lately on this one, but I got a lot out of this post.
Michael, this is a really great statement. I have a lot of knowledge, but often lack the wisdom to properly apply in my own life that which I know. I sometimes call it my "Jeopardy" syndrome. I know a whole lot of stuff that works good on a game show, but doesn't really bring me wisdom in the end. So your statement challenges me and reminds me of Proverbs 4:7. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding." Thanks for the thought.
Posted by: Mike Benson | November 05, 2009 at 07:36 AM
Love the discussion on this, truly an example of what the church was intended 2 be from the beginning. Not listening 2 one man only but sharpening and discussing the scripture and the thoughts so that we all may be encouraged, challenged, and strengthened. Great thought really helped me see through many different perspectives!
Posted by: Aaron | November 06, 2009 at 06:48 PM