If you want to lose weight, there is one sure way…do not work (Genesis 3:17-19; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). If we do not work, we do not eat, except for those few staples that the government provides for the unemployed.
In today's society, usually both parents work and
daycare and after-school programs care for their children. They choose this
lifestyle in order to succeed in their careers and to give their children the
material possessions, which they always wanted and never had as children.
They rely on their human abilities to provide for
their needs as well as their wants - rarely realizing that God is actually
providing them with the will, desire, ability and health to earn a living.
During the Exodus wandering, God gave the Israelites
small, round wafers to eat that tasted like coriander seeds and honey. These
wafers sustained them and came fresh each new morning (Exodus 16:14, 31).
They could not save any for the next day (Palm
78:2-25); they had to trust God for His daily provision. Jesus tells us that we
too can trust God for our daily provision (Matthew 6:11).
This does not mean that we do not work, but we may
not really need to work so incessantly, while neglecting to give our spouse and
children the time and attention they need from us more than "things."
We often work to store up for ourselves earthly
treasures that end up rusting or eaten by moths (Matthew 6:19); rather than
working toward personal relationships and heavenly riches instead. Following
God's will for us is the one sure way to succeed in every area of this life.
Prayer:
Father God, at the end of their life, many people record through letter
or verbal admission that they wished they worked less and spent more time with
their family. The shock of the empty nest and their children's pursuit of their
own life and family come as a huge surprise. We yearn for a more personal
relationship with our family, as we had with our parents, but many children
are too busy for their parents.
We attempt to cajole them or make them feel guilty for ignoring us, but
this only drives them further away. Remind us to follow the leading of Your
Spirit and to maintain a relationship with them that will be a blessing rather
than a drain. Give us eyes to see their personal needs and how we can step in
and fill the gap to give them more personal time with us and with their family.
Thought for the Day:
The bottom line in this life will be how we spent our time loving our
family, friends, neighbors, church family and community; responding to the
divine appointments that God provides for us each week to walk in His will and
sharing our blessings with others as God gives us an abundance of all things.
