“Do you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the LORD our God has driven out before us, we will possess it.” (Judges 11:24)
When Jephthah spoke these words to the Ammonites, he made a very good point. Whoever we serve, we must be content with what that god has the power to give us. One way to assess your life is to ask: what will the thing I am dedicating my life to give me?
Dedicate your life to career and wealth? You can expect nothing more than what riches can buy. Forget about love, family, home, health, and peace of mind – your career can’t give you those things.
Dedicate your life to pursuing your dreams? In the day of adversity, expect no one to be there for you but yourself. A life dedicated to the ‘Big Me’ ends up alone in both victory and defeat.
Perhaps charity is the route of preference? Unfortunately, a giving heart is open to both joy and pain. People take advantage of givers. Even family lets us down, and friends which are made through acts of service often flee when it is their turn to give instead of receive.
Health and long-life? Nope, that won’t work either. Death trumps life every time. Everyone’s days are numbered, and even a long-life is not guaranteed to be a good one. It might just be long, not long and happy. (I’ve had plane flights like that!)
You only possess as much as what your god gives you to possess. So worship well.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John. 10:10)
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
This Week’s Reading: Judges 8-15; Psalm 27; Proverbs 27 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament. Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision