Saturday, May 5, 2012

You deserve... Really?

I was half listening to a TV commercial today when I heard the phrase, "You deserve it." This is not the first time I've heard this phrase in a commercial either on television or on the radio. I don't recall hear this phrase as often in the past so it's gotten me to thinking. Could this phrase be tied to what is happening in the Obama political world?

Obama is telling everyone that they deserve this, and they deserve that, all regardless of the effort put forth on their part. And now I'm hearing that I DESERVE every product being advertised. Obama, the liberal news media, and now advertisements are all working together to brainwash us all in that we deserve any and every thing we desire. There is absolutely no reason, according to them, for anyone not having what we want.

But, the Bible tells us differently. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, it says: "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat."

If this is the rule for food, a very basic need for life, how much more for the thing that are not necessary but only desired? Luke 12:15 says, "Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." There's nothing wrong with wanting things, as long as it is not in excess; notice the word abundance in the verse above. 

God enjoys giving us good things. But we are not to be greedy about it. Nor are we always to desire everything we see. God expects us to live happy, useful, helpful lives. An Obamian-style life, filled with unearned and unneeded handouts is not please to God.

No one deserves anything. God's unearned mercy and forgiveness is a blessing beyond description and anything else from Him is icing on the cake. His love for us should be all that we desire; it's all that should make us happy.

This is a hard thing for us to comprehend, let alone put into practice. But practice it we must. Thank you Lord. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this post. It strikes me that we do deserve one thing: Hell! We have earned the wages of sin, apart from God's awesome grace in Christ. Blessings to your ministry.