Did you miss part one? Go to Enjoy Life: From Meaningless to Meaningful
I heard a pastor recently talking about our wants and needs related to our prayer life. How we try to manipulate God into approving our behaviors. We mask our sinful desires by praying for prosperity yet have no plans to serve the kingdom with gifts, or we do so meagerly. We pray for the right house to purchase and won’t open our homes to our church needs. A better car, a good vacation, a husband or wife, a job, or even children. And all along we don’t ever plan to surrender all those over for God’s holy work. Or we make a deal with God to get what we want knowing full well we won’t uphold our side of the bargain.
" And he (Jesus) said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15
False “needs” and empty prayers. They lead to greed and coveting. It all comes down to not trusting in God for our provisions. And not being good stewards of what we have been gifted. We tell God over and over what He needs to do for us. If He doesn’t perform that particular miracle then darn it, we are going to make it happen for our ourself. Or worse, reject God.
"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. " Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
Let your words be few, King Solomon warns us. With few words yes, but with listening ears. The Bible tells us to come before the Lord with our requests. However, night after night, morning after morning we roll out our list of wants and needs. Do we ever ask God if those are what He wants for us? Imagine a relationship here on earth like that. Your friend is constantly complaining about what she or he doesn’t have and what they want. And they never, ever stop talking (sounds like a toddler!). Our prayer life and quiet times with the Lord are supposed to be a two-way street! Not a drive-through ordering system.
In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.
John Bunyan
A few weeks ago I read an account by Christian teacher Kay Arthur about the night, at 29 years of age, that she was truly saved. “I’d been at a party. The only thing I remember about that night was that a man named Jim looked at me and said, “Why don’t you quit telling God what you want and tell Him that Jesus Christ is all you need?” His words irritated me. “Jesus Christ is not all I need,” she replied. My reply was curt. “I need a husband, I need a…” and one by one I enumerated my needs. I turned my heel and went home.”
Her family was very religious but the Bible had not been a central part of her life. She went to church but no one had ever asked her if she had been saved. She hadn’t realized going to church and being a “good Christian” weren’t the keys to salvation. She knew her sins were obvious and she was in deep spiritual and emotional pain. The next day after that party, she couldn’t face going to work and called in sick. She found herself at the edge of her bed crying out to God for a healing of peace. She discovered the God who provides, the God who heals. She gave her wants and needs completely over to Him to purge and refine.
Are you constantly making a list of all the things you expect God to do for you? Yet don’t plan on obeying and serving Him? Are you usurping His authority over your life and building up all your stuff to fill yet another room or another storage unit rather than re-gifting your blessings to His Kingdom? King Solomon starkly tells us this is all so meaningless. In his study of this life, he ends chapter 5 reminding us everything we have is of God — gifts from heaven to be used and enjoyed accordingly.
“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:19-20
The apostle Paul carries this theme of God as our great provider throughout the epistles. Setting our sights not on stuff but on the Lord. More importantly, setting our hearts to the heavens.
“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:12-13
Is it time to do your own room-by-room inventory? An inventory of your prayer life? An inventory of the room of your heart? Maybe it’s time to give, give, give. And to quietly listen for His Word so He can set you on the path to enjoyment. For when you do, our Lord and Savior has promised us, “for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”