Live With It

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  We 21st- century Americans (generally speaking) seem to take for granted that we should never suffer or experience lack, we should never have to wait or be denied anything. We are used to getting our way, pampering ourselves and living in comfort, if not in ease. "Now, wait a minute! I live in a single-wide trailer with broken windows and holes in the floor." I refer to relative ease, as compared to most of the world's population, past and present.
  
  Who do we think we are?!?!
  
  If we are hot, we turn on the air conditioner. If we are cold, we turn up the heat. Have a headache? Reach for the Tylenol! We want softer beds, bigger video screens, newer furniture, more stylish clothes, faster food and "cooler" cars. If our body doesn't suit us, there are tanning salons, beauty salons, nail salons, fitness clubs, diet clubs and even plastic surgery. How does this appear to a God Who sees all?...Who sees the emaciated orphan in rags, sleeping on the ground, stomach distended and growling...while we sing "You deserve a break today" on our way to McDonald's for lunch? What a contrast to the lifestyle we call normal!
  
  I catch myself thinking, "If only I had this or that, then I would be satisfied." There is only one thing that truly, deeply satisfies: an abiding relationship with Jesus, lover of my soul. Sometimes I think we hinder our relationship with God by eliminating anything that causes discomfort. We surround ourselves with things that make us feel good. We are satiated, over-indulged, our hearts are "overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life"... (Luke 21:34) We "correct" the very situations that God has allowed as a means of bringing us closer to Himself. The suggestion of fasting causes us to sheepishly search for excuses to be excused from such self-denial.
  
  Please, let me be understood. My goal for this treatise is not to produce a guilt trip. I am not advocating self-induced deprivation. My intent is to give fresh perspective - a perspective of our lives here on Earth, as a vapor, as God sees us, based on these verses as well as many others:
  
  "In the world ye shall have tribulation..." (John 16:33) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3) "That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death" (Philippians 3:10) "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." ( Philippians 4:11-13) "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:2-4) "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?...(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:25,32-34) "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2) "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
  
  In summary, there are things that we cannot change, ordained by God. There are things that we should live with, in gratitude, patience and humility, allowing God to perfect us by them. Those things which are changeable, must be properly discerned. What is our motive, our heart's desire?? Is it pride? fear? weakness of the flesh? We must use what He has given us in service to Him, to His glory and to bless others. We must "be content with such things as ye have...godliness with contentment is great gain." ( Hebrew 13:5,1 Timothy 6:6) We must check our priorities, asking ourselves how else this time, money, energy , space could (or should) be used. Ultimately, we must be thankful, feeling and showing gratitude, for every breath we take is a gift from Him.
  
  Finally, one more verse: "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13)