Daniel

Today our women's Bible study group finished the book of Daniel with Beth Moore. It was a real challenge! The first half of the book we talked about Babylon and what that means. How we are all in our own challenges in Babylon. We deal with materialism, strife, gossip, gluttony, all kinds of things that pull us from God. I realized that there are some things in my life that I need to work on! (Isn't that just the way God works?)

Materialism is something that people relate to the States and how life is there. There's just so much abundance. You can get anything if you work hard enough and want it bad enough. But, I've found something else out about materialism. It's a state of the heart.

Here's why.

I struggle with materialism. Not necessarily buying things I don't need or spending more money than I have (although there was a time, I suppose, when I spent money I didn't need to), but, feeling resentful that even if I wanted too, I couldn't. There's a deep-seeded feeling of resentment at times when I see friends buying things right and left (things, I would argue, that aren't even necessary) and I can't. The ability to do so isn't even there. To cover it, we can get the attitude, "Well, I guess even if I could, I wouldn't because I can think of so many better things to do with my money. There's so much need in the world, I would help that."

Just to knock out that sense of pride, here's a thought. Do you have something right now in your possession that someone else might really need? Maybe you have more than one thing. Do you give it? My husband one time met a man who lived on the street who was wearing a light, long-sleeved shirt. He gave him his sweatshirt we just bought. At first, I'm ashamed to say, I was a little upset with him. How could he do that? It's not like we have the money all the time to just run out and buy more if we need to. (insert indignant look here) Do you know what he said to me? "Honey, since I have 3 more in my closet, we won't need to worry about running right out and buying another one anytime soon. The man doesn't even have a home." (Now you can insert an ashamed look)

What was I thinking? Did it really matter to us, even if it was my husband's last sweatshirt, to give it to a man who didn't even have a home? You get possessive. You see the need, you can even maybe meet the need, but, you justify it by saying that really, you can't afford to. It wouldn't even truly hurt to meet that need, but, we don't. What does Jesus think of that? He who gave us everything we have to begin with? He who gave all He had without even a second thought, when we didn't even deserve it?

Anyway, Daniel did it to me. I hated that study! I hate having to crucify the flesh. It's painful, it hurts, and it's ugly to see what needs to go. Just when I thought, "Wow, I'm doing really well, Lord. I'm serving You here in Guatemala. I'm giving You everything I have." He says, "Really? Let's just see."

God is so good and patient with us. I'm grateful! What would I do if He thought and acted the way I do sometimes? Yikes! Yikes to us all!

I challenge you. Ask Him, truthfully, what you can work on. He'll start to point things out. It's not fun, but, the end result is amazing.