From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Jun 13, 2023 at 4:56 AM

Subject: 6-13-23 THOUGHTS

6-13-23   THOUGHTS

From Acts 20 yesterday we considered “IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.”  The last portion of our reading below gives us an interesting dimension on this great truth.  It’s a statement asking for help with CONTENTMENT!  He sees ENOUGH as the golden mean between  “not enough” and “too much”!  There are dangers on either extreme.  
 
Prov 30:1 NASB   The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
Prov 30:1-9 Message Bible    The skeptic swore, "There is no God! No God!—I can do anything I want! 2  I’m more animal than human; so-called human intelligence escapes me.  3  "I flunked ‘wisdom.’ I see no evidence of a holy God. 4  Has anyone ever seen Anyone climb into Heaven and take charge? grab the winds and control them? gather the rains in his bucket? stake out the ends of the earth? Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons. Come on now—tell me!"
5  The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.  6  So don’t second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies." 7   And then he prayed, "God, I’m asking for two things before I die; don’t refuse me— 8  Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. 9  If I’m too full, I might get independent, saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’ If I’m poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God."
2Cor 12:10  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Php 4:11  Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
1Tim 6:6-8   But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.  7  For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.  8  If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Heb 13:5  Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

My Prayer:
Father, give us the discipline to control the physical.  Remove the wants and desires that keep us from a closer walk with You.  Teach us contentment,  and help us to think on things above rather than things on earth.  May we see that abiding in the Vine is the only true option, and what a wondrous option it is. True happiness is in You, O God.  Give us joyful power and diligence as we pursue more of You.  We seek contentment with our world, and more love for You.  In the name of our Savior,       Amen.