JUNE 28, 2013
Miserable
Success
Read: Luke
9:18-27
If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross
daily, and follow Me. —Luke
9:23
Every
year when I put out the hummingbird feeder, the busy little birds start
battling
for position. Even though there are four places at the “table,” the
birds fight for
whatever place one of their neighbors is using. The source of
food at each place is the
same—a reservoir of syrup in the bottom of the
feeder. Knowing that all the feeding
stations are equal, I shake my head at
their greediness.
But
then I wonder, Why is it so much easier to see the greed of the birds
than it is to
see my own? I often want the place at “God’s table” that someone else has,
even though
I know all good things come from the same source—God—and that His
supply will never
run out. Since God can prepare a table for us even in the
presence of our enemies
(Ps. 23:5), why be concerned that someone else might
have the station in life that we
want?
The
Lord is able to give us “all sufficiency in all things” so that we will have
“an abundance
for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). When we recognize the
importance of our work as
ministers of the grace of God (1 Peter 4:10), we’ll
stop fighting to take over someone
else’s position and be grateful for the
place God has given us to serve others on His
behalf.
Thank You for the privilege we have to serve You by
serving others, Lord. Help us to be content to fill
the place where You have put us, so that
You might be glorified through us.
Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from
looking at God.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
