#112a What is enough(18oct06)

‘No man should appear before the Lord empty handed..’
Deuteronomy 16:16

For many, discussion about money is not an asymmetrical double-sided coin. Most would be ecstatic if it is about receiving, but what about giving?? “No gain and many pains”

Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you’
Deuteronomy 16:17

We will if God so will, revisit this topic of money again, but for now, the question of what suffices, need not necessary be limited to the narrow confines of money.

This morning, at my church, the pastor talked about why, amongst others compelling reasons, most of us believers spend time in church. It is about coming to the presence of God, about the desire to continue to experience further encounters with Him, encounters that have previously first brought us into His kingdom.

If you do visit my website ( http://www.hieang.com ) you will notice that I do love to collect snuffs and other stuffs, most of which are of very little practical use(and the wife is probably right on that), though they do serve to satisfy one’s wistful hopes.
One danger of falling in love with things of the world, is that it will could grip your mind and heart and lead to an obsession, for never enough becomes the mantra for a totally captured soul.

What about God?? Can we have never enough of wanting to seek Him first and always??
Let me digress here and wander off into areas of our relationship with Him, before I attempt to make a U-turn back to this question.

For many, when we first believed, it was a result of an encounter and experience with our Sovereign Lord. Often, we move from a thankful heart for His grace and compassion, in helping us deal with an issue(s) and once out of the sinkhole, we desire to obey His command.

‘And whosoever will be chief among you, let him by your servant….’
Matthew 20:27

To love Him with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
For many, this is translated into a desire to share the gospel of love, peace and salvation, by words or by works.




Reality is, for the imperfect us working for the perfect Lord in the imperfect world, we are soon brought down to the reality of an ungrateful and unforgiving world.
In our weakness, we yearn for God given supernatural powers, to make right the wrongs, to do
great wonderful things that we assume is what God wants, based on our finite and flawed understanding.

‘Strengthen ye the weak hands. And confirm the feeble knees…’
Isaiah 35-3

Of course, as many will surely fall flat on their desirous faces, the conclusion would be, “it is enough, I have done my fair share for God..”

Many are called, but few are chosen. Indeed, it is because very few are prepared to respond in faith and obedience to wherever, whatever and whenever the Lord calls them to do.
There is no such thing as how little or how much you have done for God, but rather, have you obeyed when He calls??

A straw poll amongst people who call themselves ‘Christians’ will reveal a very small minority who are walking with the Lord daily, be it in prayers, in worship, in His words and in His works, with no expectations other than the assurance of His love and grace, and our desire to respond in faith and obedience.

By now, despite my on oft less than perfect hearing ability, I do sense howls of vociferous protests from the hearts of many aggrieved Christians, if they happened to come across this indictment.

It is indeed often, a lonely walk with very little human company and worse, often we are not even sure if God is there, if we are doing right in His will.
But have you seek Him, Have you prayed. Have you read His Words. Have you worship Him in songs, in quiet solitude and in corporate fellowship?? Have you done enough to draw near to Him??

‘...when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying. Have mercy on us, O Lord…
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him’
Matthew 20:30-34

The story of the two blind men who remained steadfast in their pursuit and plea to Jesus Christ and how they were blessed finally with the gift of sight, reminds me of our relationship with God.
All things are by the grace of God. Only thing that we can and must do, is to desire to stay focus on Him always. It is His timing and way, not ours. He will help us.
There is never enough of God. We must seek Him always, and always, as He leads..

It is easy to stay focus, when things are dandy and life is a breeze. But, hey, life is tough in this world, and God is not making it easy for us. Why can’t He endow me with enough wealth, health, stealth and everything good and necessary to do good in this world and to correct those obnoxious sinful people??

‘....the bread of affliction….so that with all the days of your life, you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt’
Deuteronomy 16:3

The human mind is not just imperfect, but deceitful. Often, when blessings come, we thank God momentarily and eventually, draw away from the source of our comfort and grace.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and sadly, the imperfect human is in need of an affliction or two occasionally, to stay focus and walk right with the Lord.
The apostle, Paul, who had had that great experience with Jesus Christ, when our Lord spoke to Him. A man who God used mightily to bring His Word to the Gentiles(ie non Jews), understood the need for a thorn in his flesh, for with troubles, he will stay close and focus on God.

The trouble with troubles, is that they are never enough!!

To know God, to see Him, to be like Him, it is suffice to say that the standards and benchmarks of the sinful world are not just not good enough, and totally inappropriate for those who desire to be with Him.

It is God who we must look to, it is God who we must be desirous of always seeking, in trust and obedience.
Is that good enough.?? By ourselves and our own efforts and understanding, no, but by His grace, He will more than provide.

‘…therefore let us keep…………not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth’
1 Corinthians 5:8

God Blesses

Eng Hieang