Are You In The Mood For Thanksgiving Yet?
HT: Ray Ortlund (Per Men’s Group @ Immanuel Church)
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. . . . You shall not covet . . . anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:1-2, 17
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The problem: Coveting
What might we covet about another man? His job, money, looks, brains, wife and kids, car, house, opportunities, influence, position, education, musical talent, promotions at work, sense of humor, friendships, etc. Our hearts are ungrateful, blaming, resentful, insecure, sulky, grasping, plotting, unhappy, defeated with selfishness. The Israelites murmured and complained their way right out of usefulness to God. And Paul says their story is a warning to us (1 Cor 10). At the bottom of it all, the human heart is unhappy with God, even angry. Our hearts are born in attack-mode toward God.
The antidote: Love from God
Romans 13:9-10 says the Ten Commandments boil down to this: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” for love fulfills the law. The generosity of heart called “love” frees us from craving what God has given to another man. Love frees us to rejoice with that guy. Love calms us into contentment with the life God has assigned us. We even go beyond contentment. We become generous. “The righteous give without sparing” (Proverbs 21:26). “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35, JB). How do we get into that happy place? “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). We can’t explain it, but we know it’s true: In giving, we receive. God is able to supply us with such inner fullness that we have something to give to all around.
