Week 6 2013 Where Did It Come From?

We were sharing a table aboard our cruise ship this week with three other couples who belong to the same RV club we do.  As we discussed RVing and what it entails to be a full-time RVer, one of the women said that she could never part with her stuff.  As we continued our conversation it became quite apparent that she was very proud of her stuff, feeling like she was entitled to all that she had accumulated.

When we decided to hit the road we sold or gave away nearly everything in our house.  It was a freeing experience, like a huge weight was lifted from our shoulders.  I suppose we had a less difficult time with this process than some because we realize that everything we have is a blessing from God.  Furthermore, we can’t take any of it with us.  However, the primary reason is our knowing where all we have came from.  James writes: “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:16-17).”  Notice that he says we are deceived when we think anything we get comes from any other source than the Lord.  Yet, it is very common to hear someone tell you how hard they worked for what they have, and how much they deserve whatever it is.  Ultimately, we have nothing that we deserve.  What we do have is what God has blessed us with.