DevoToday.com

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12

I used to really struggle with this passage.

I’ve had a number of life experiences where what I asked for and was seeking never happened. God did not give what I was asking. I used to think “but what happened to ‘ask and it will be given?’ I’m asking!”

But then I read more closely… The son who asks for bread doesn’t necessarily get bread — just not a stone. Asking for a fish doesn’t mean a fish shows up immediately — but it would be absurd to give a gift like a snake, which doesn’t fulfill the need.

Sing along with me now:

You can’t always get what you want…
But if you try sometimes well you just might find you get what you need.

Not getting a fish or bread doesn’t mean you go hungry. It just might mean it will be a fruit and nut day.

When we ask, God provides. When we seek Him out, He will be there. It might just not look like you thought it would.

Be God’s — every day.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Timothy 6:17

As described in this verse, those who have been blessed must realize the source of their blessings. What we have is a gift from God. We cannot put our trust in the things we achieve, because we simply didn’t earn them without help.

Recognizing, then, that what we have is a gift, we should also recognize the responsibility that comes with that. You may recall the parable of the faithful servant… When Jesus closes with the line “to whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48 — check it out for the context of the parable). When we have gifts, we are called to use them as best we can.

This weekend I stumbled upon a video that gave me hope. We often hear of celebrities and athletes failing to recognize the responsibility that comes with their blessing. In this video, I saw the exact opposite.

(if the link doesn’t work, search YouTube for “Kirk Cousins Big Ten” and you should find it)

I appreciate how he steps up to the responsibility. I wish we all could respond as wisely as Kirk Cousins appears to. We have all been blessed by God, and we have the responsibility to use those blessings to the fullest.

Be God’s — every day.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

I’m sitting in an airport restaurant, quite hungry. I’ve ordered my favorite breakfast: french toast with a side of bacon. What a great way to start the day!

Except when the meal comes, the bacon is clearly the quick serve microwavable kind. The french toast seems suspiciously nuked as well. I eat it, but leave the restaurant feeling like it was as great a start to the day as I had hoped. (though the Starbucks in my hand now is saving it)

My breakfast didn’t give me quite the edge I hoped for, because I wasn’t satisfied with it. It was exactly what I ordered, and it fundamentally tasted like it was supposed to. But I wasn’t content, and thus it isn’t giving me the kick I hoped for to get through a long day of travel and meetings.

While I normally wouldn’t compare our faith in God with microwave bacon, in this case I am. We can choose to be content with what our faith has yielded and what God provides, and if we do so it will give us much. Whereas if we don’t feel like godliness gives us enough, we won’t get the full benefit from what we have.

Recognize the value in what God provides and the power he can give. Be pleased with what you have, and that will pay extra dividends.

And hope that my Starbucks overcomes the weak bacon…

Be God’s — every day.

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
Deuteronomy 8:2

The God that tested the Israelites is the same God who tests us today. Difficulties come and reveal our heart, in order to show us that we rely on God to provide.

God wants us to pass. He wants us to seek him in good times and bad, and he wants to provide for us.

May we all see trials as tests, refining our reliance on God. Further, may we see his provisions as the blessings they are, as fulfillment of those tests.

Be God’s — every day.

You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18

There is an odd irony here… The things that God provides tend to be the things that make us forget about God. I suppose that’s true in parenting as well — children value what is provided to them, but may not always connect it with how it was provided. We remember and praise what we value, and may not connect it with the source.

We all have our gifts, which our actions then may turn into further blessings. Just because we commit the physical or mental acts, though, does not make us the source. Remember that God has chosen those gifts uniquely for you, and he is the source of all your blessings.

Be God’s — every day.

Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands, but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
1 Samuel 18:8-9

Saul was like many of us… Wanting to compare the blessings we have received with the blessings given to others. “I am ‘blessed’ with a decent job, but THEY got to be blessed with winning the lottery!” or “I am blessed with great friends, but SHE was blessed with a wonderful husband.”

These comparisons can overcome us, leading us to feel like we matter less to the God who provides. We quickly forget that God has chosen a path specifically for each of us for a reason. You have that job for a reason, and that friend will need you for a certain thing at a certain time. We all have our specific place and worth.

If we let ourselves get caught up in comparisons of wealth, status, or power, we fail to recognize the way God provides and cares for us uniquely. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

Be God’s — every day.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:6-8

This is always a hard lesson for me. I love stuff. Gadgets in particular. If it has an On switch, I want to turn it on and play with it.

I’d like to think that I can generally keep my stuff cravings in check, meaning that I understand that it’s just temporary and not really worth it in the long run. But there are times — often after I drive by the lottery advertisement on the highway — when I start to daydream about a bigger and better house. My house is small, old, and has all kinds of faults. I’d love a bigger house with a closet big enough to fit two people’s clothes.

If not checked, that desire for more space could lead to losing contentment with the house that God has given me. At least I have a house. At least I have clothes (that don’t all fit in the small closets).

Recognize all that God has given you, and resist the temptation to long for more. Goals and plans are fine… but don’t let them interfere with giving thanks for all that you already have.

Be God’s — every day.