Why Are We So Bent On Being Angry?

"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure."

James 4:1-3

 This is NOT a political commentary, just my weird mind sharing some information.  Have you noticed how we seem to spend an inordinate amount of time and energy being angry?  We don't like what someone said or did so we get angry and yell, rant, rage, and generally cause a lot of noise.  

Why are we so angry so much of the time?  You'd think we had forgotten that we only have a few trips around the Sun on this rock and we'd try harder to make them actually rather pleasant.  Yet, for some reason, it seems as if humans aren't happy unless we are unhappy and making a bunch of other humans unhappy.  "Misery loves company" as the saying goes.

Let's look at today's passage and chisel out a few nuggets, shall we? 

First, we fight, quarrel and argue because of our own desires!  Let's face it, if our truest desires were as pure and altruistic as we want others to believe, we're lying to everyone (including ourselves) and falsely believing that God's okay with it.  But if we were to, say, take our focus OFF of our own desires and work for the betterment of others...(if I may quote Louis Armstrong) "What a wonderful world this would be."

Second, when we can't get what we want...what do we do? We try to figure out how to get what we want.  We want a bigger house or new clothes or new car and we don't have the money so...."God will understand if I cut back on my giving for a bit. After all, He's got all the riches of the universe at His disposal."  Let's face it, humans are selfish!

Third, we ask Abba for what we want, yet we don't get it because Abba has other plans for us, like helping a neighbor who is going through a tough time or has lost everything in a tragedy, or needs food.  Yes, I realize there are a LOT of organizations with their hands out wanting your "only $19 dollars each month."  I'm not saying we are to be tightwads, nor am I saying we should just through great wadges of cash at every hand that is stuck out.  We need to learn is the face Abba is not going to give us everything we want, yet He'll provide exactly what we NEED.  

Finally, today's passage isn't so much about arguing, plotting and scheming. It's a reminder that we need to get our heart right with Abba.  It's a reminder that we need to focus on HIM.   It's a reminder that we need to look beyond ourselves and see what opportunities Abba brings into our lives every single day.  When we focus on HIM, we will experience peace, contentment, caring, and the desire to do for others.

Think about it.

I Don't Need Anyone!

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:31-33 

 

We're a stubborn lot, aren't we?  We concern ourselves about so many things that we really shouldn't, but we are determined that no solution will be found without us.  Think for a moment, What is your biggest NEED right now?  Perhaps it's another cup of coffee, or to feel important, or a chance to step back and regroup, or even the need to know that someone cares.  

 

Yet because we are so stubborn, we don't let anyone know what we truly need because that might come across as a sign of weakness.  I'll confess publicly, I have a need to be accepted and loved.  I NEED that!  Does that make me weak?  Nope!  That confession makes me human.  

 

Let me give you a premise:  "If you will let your needs drive you to God, God will meet your deepest needs."  Don't believe me? Do it and see!  Jesus promised, in today's passage, that if we seek the Kingdom of God above all else, God will meet our needs.  And here's the kicker, He will meet them far better than we ever could!

What Difference Does It Make?

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? 

James 2:15-16 

 

One of the biggest criticisms I have heard about Christians is they pray a lot but don't DO much.  And to be honest, that criticism, in some cases, is absolutely correct.  How many times have we heard of someone struggling and our response was "I'll pray for you"?  While praying for someone is always a good thing, wouldn't it be even better if we prayed AND helped that person?  

 

Let's look at this a different way: Suppose you were struggling to provide food for your family after a setback, would it be better for members of the church to come and pray for that family?  Or would it be better to bless the family with groceries?

 

Remember when Jesus fed the 5000?  He met their need and as a result, they listened to Him.  And every time Jesus healed someone, He met their need and, as a result, His message was heard.

 

Remember the Good Samaritan?  The person who had been left for dead was passed over by the religious guys.  It was the Samaritan who came along and met his NEED.  

 

Praying is good!  But God requires us to DO something as well, even if it is to sit with someone while the vent.  There is no reason to ever become a "bookshelf christian" where you look pious and collect dust.  Let us be about following the example of Christ!

Consider

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

As we share the Christmas Season with our loved ones, I would ask that you take a moment to consider those for whom the Christmas Season is a painful time.  How could it possibly be a painful time?  Perhaps due to the death of a family member; perhaps because of being new to the area and no friends have been made as yet; perhaps because there are no funds to provide even the basic essentials for their family.

You see, God has blessed each of us and we are to be good stewards of what God has provided.  Consider sharing a bit of your Christmas with someone who isn't so fortunate.  Consider inviting someone who has no family to share with your family.  Consider encouraging and sharing love with those who have family who have died. Consider remind others that the arrival of Christ brings hope, and then share your hope with someone who may be hopeless.  Befriend the person who may not have any friends as yet.

Every person's story is different and every person is in need of something, and it is God's instruction to us to share with others, and in so doing, needs are met.

We are instructed to share each other's burdens.  Therefore, SHARE YOUR CARE!!!
 

Thankful For God's Provisions

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19 

 

Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that God provides exactly what we need at exactly the right time in exactly the right amount?  Consider that thought for a moment....I'll wait......no, seriously this is important, so please take your time.....

 

Remember the Lord's Prayer where ask God to give us our "daily bread"?  We are asking for God to provide us ONLY what we need for that day.  We don't need what God has for us tomorrow, because tomorrow is not here yet.  We don't need what God provided for us yesterday, because we can't go back to yesterday.  What we need is God's provision for TODAY!

 

Now while God has promised to "supply your every NEED" that means just that...God provides for our needs....not our wants or desires or cravings or greediness. We have this habit of taking what we WANT and convincing ourselves that we cannot function without it and then we TELL God that it is our need when it is in actuality our greed!  God does not feed our greed!  If God knows you need an automobile then be happy with His provision (because He didn't HAVE to give it to you.  He could have supplied you with a bicycle instead.), yet some insist that they NEED an expensive SUV with all the whistles and bells that cost more than most people's homes, when God may provide them with a used puddle jumper that conveys them from point A to point B.

 

You see, we must be careful about taking OUR "needs" list before God.  God supplies our NEEDS.  Again, think about this: God provides food the birds need, but He doesn't drop it in their nests.  If your need is for employment, God has provided for that need, but chances are He's not going to drop it in your lap.  If God gave everything to us on a silver platter with a velvet pillow, we would become spoiled and not appreciate His provision.

  

Let's take time to thank God for His continuing supplying of our needs.  Let us be grateful for all He has already given us and for what He has in store for us.

 

#dailythankfulchallenge