May 18th, 2022
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
What Have You Done for me Lately?
Two old friends bumped into each other on the street. One of them looked miserable, almost on the verge of tears.
His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, old friend?”
The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago my uncle died and left me $40,000.”
“Congratulations. That’s a lot of money!”
“Two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died and left me $85,000.”
“Well, it sounds like you have really been blessed!”
“You don’t understand,” he interrupted. “Last week my great aunt died. I inherited a quarter of a million dollars more.”
His friend was really confused. “Then why do you look so glum?” he asked.
The sad fellow sighed, “This week – nothing.”
Many people act toward God like sports fans act toward their favorite athlete or team. The question arises, “What have you done for me lately?"
They abandon their favorite player or team because they forget the great things they once did and are unhappy with recent performance. We often are more concerned about what God has done for us lately than what he has done throughout our lives. We certainly don’t think about what we have done for him out of gratitude.
The Apostle Paul knew what it meant to be grateful and content with the Lord’s provision. Look what he wrote in Philippians 4:10-13…I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Paul understood that God’s past performance in his life had always been sufficient and that it would always be more than enough whenever the need arose. He could do all things through the On who gave him strength. God always give enough strength to his servant for the task at hand and any need that would come.
The man in our story was much more concerned about getting than he was about giving. He had not learned gratitude for what he had received and he certainly had not learned the first thing about contentment.
Paul later wrote to his mentored pupil, the young Pastor, Timothy, “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)
God is working. He’s always working. Are you?
This Sunday we will share the second from final message from the series Agent of Change, Elisha – God’s Man of Purpose with a message titled, Agent of Change or Agent of Goldbricking, based on 2 Kings 13:14-19. I hope you will join us for this special day.
Learning contentment with you,
Jon
What Have You Done for me Lately?
Two old friends bumped into each other on the street. One of them looked miserable, almost on the verge of tears.
His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, old friend?”
The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago my uncle died and left me $40,000.”
“Congratulations. That’s a lot of money!”
“Two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died and left me $85,000.”
“Well, it sounds like you have really been blessed!”
“You don’t understand,” he interrupted. “Last week my great aunt died. I inherited a quarter of a million dollars more.”
His friend was really confused. “Then why do you look so glum?” he asked.
The sad fellow sighed, “This week – nothing.”
Many people act toward God like sports fans act toward their favorite athlete or team. The question arises, “What have you done for me lately?"
They abandon their favorite player or team because they forget the great things they once did and are unhappy with recent performance. We often are more concerned about what God has done for us lately than what he has done throughout our lives. We certainly don’t think about what we have done for him out of gratitude.
The Apostle Paul knew what it meant to be grateful and content with the Lord’s provision. Look what he wrote in Philippians 4:10-13…I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Paul understood that God’s past performance in his life had always been sufficient and that it would always be more than enough whenever the need arose. He could do all things through the On who gave him strength. God always give enough strength to his servant for the task at hand and any need that would come.
The man in our story was much more concerned about getting than he was about giving. He had not learned gratitude for what he had received and he certainly had not learned the first thing about contentment.
Paul later wrote to his mentored pupil, the young Pastor, Timothy, “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)
God is working. He’s always working. Are you?
This Sunday we will share the second from final message from the series Agent of Change, Elisha – God’s Man of Purpose with a message titled, Agent of Change or Agent of Goldbricking, based on 2 Kings 13:14-19. I hope you will join us for this special day.
Learning contentment with you,
Jon
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