I Have Enough

America is said, "To be the land of opportunity" known the world over for the Americian Dream and this spirit is characteristic of its people. It's a country where being born without privilege, money or station in life, can be overcome, and that is why so many have come from all over the earth, to become part of what has made America great. It seems that America has been romanticized as a land of opportunity since the 16th century and from its founding in 1776, the United States has regarded and promoted itself as an empire of liberty and prosperity. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights," which include "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Though we live in a land of plenty, yet it is very seldom that we hear anyone say "I have enough."


The first business of the Christian is to "seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteouness,but to often we strive for "gold that perisheth," which becomes a fierce hardship for our wife and children, leaving them feeling a distant second to worldly pursuits. Family members have grown into adulthood in strife,conflict and rivalry between other family members. This is a very commonly known fact, Hollywood has made many different comical movies depicting a father's obession with work to the detriment of his family. Showing the truth of the quote, "Everything is funny as long as it is happening to someone else."

"....men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6: 5-10).

A family enjoyed raising some laying hens, they brought a straight run of chicks, which means they got a mixture of hens and roosters. One day they decided` it was time to put the rooster to a better use than just consuming more food. So they went into the fenced in yard and started to corner and capture the roosters, putting them into cages. One of the cornered rooster felt he was not going to have anyting to do with this, so he jumped straight up and flew out over the 4 foot high fence. Let me stop here in this story to consider a few things. Without a doubt, any of the chichen could have done what this roosted did, but they all remained inside the fenced in area, Why? The chickens remained in the pen because they found satisfaction/contentment there. "Having food and raiment there were content," and they found "contentment great gain." The fenced in area served the chickens in three ways:

1) It kept them in an acceptable area.

2) It protected them from predators.

3) It kept them together.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6)). A contented mind is one of the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this life. Contentment is good for the soul, for it stops murmuring, reflecting, and ingratitude toward God and our fellowman. It gives us thoughts of peace and love and makes our conversation pleasant.

However, all of these important function rested entirely upon contentment. All of us have lived long enough to know that, "we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. What we fail to comprehend is having food, clothing, and a roof over our head to be therein content. So we jump straight up and flew out over the fenced in area of contentment, exposing ourself, and family to all of the above stated dangers.

It has been said that the Americans, "for ever imagine the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are already settled." And it has been added that if they attained Paradise, they would move on if they heard of a better place farther west. When will you learn that the hard and rocky paths of life, are those beaten down, and paved over by discontentment and say "I have enough."

Are We Ready

We go to church, the preacher or teacher gives us a message, now what do we do with the message, do we go home and say what a great message, and if someone asked us what made it great?  Would we be able to give them an answer or would we be caught off guard.

Are we like the10 virgins in Mt.25 five were foolish, and five were wise, five were ready,   five were not, all were waiting, but five were waiting in vain.  What are we doing with the fuel God gives us are we putting in our lamps, or are we leaving it behind, and still we wait for the groom unprepared, unconcerned, some of us don’t even put any oil in our lamps at all, we let the preacher or teacher tell us how it is we don’t dig in and check it out, and make sure what there teaching is correct.

I know how this is, because I did it for many years, I believed what I was told, and I was putting bad oil in my lamp. I was not ready. I’m thankful that the bride groom did not come for me for if he had, he would not have not have known me. I still have to keep my lamp trimmed and oiled.  How we do this?  Through much prayer, reading, and meditating on his word, let’s stop being hearers only, but doers of his word.

We have to get our priorities straight, at our church we have homework some of us did not do our homework, so after church some got busy working on their home work other decided to go somewhere to have some fun.  The ones that stayed were wise they had their priorities straight.  The others were foolish; fun was all that was on their minds.  We know not the hour, nor the day when the Lord will return, will he say well done thou good and faithful servant, or will he say I know you not. I’m sure he will say. I wish they all had been ready.

Description of Faith that is Strong

Living by faith:  Believing in everything God says even though you can’t see what lies ahead with your physical eyes.  You have faith that everything that God says will be, will be, no matter what takes places in our lives. The future may look dim to us, trouble may surround use, pain and sorrow may be our constant friend, this in no way hinders us from going forward towards the prize that is set before us.

We need to have a good understanding what faith is: He 11:1” Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.”

We must look at ourselves, search our hearts and see if our faith is standing alone, or is there work involved in our faith.  You can’t kill faith any faster then by letting it stand alone, for if it had even a spark of life, it would die of malnutrition.

 By faith, I can see over the stars in heaven, I can see under the earth beneath, I can see the future. I can see clearly now, my eyes are open, my ears can hear the voice of the Lord leading on toward that Glorious day when I will see not only with my spiritual eyes, but also with my physical eyes.

“For the word of God is a living word and sharper then any two edged sword piercing not only the soul, but the spirit, both joints and marrow, and knows your thoughts and the intentions of your hearts” He 4:12

Nowhere will you see words that speak as these words speak, when you read other books, the words don’t pierce you through your joints and marrow, right down to your soul and spirit, when you read this living book you know the writer knows you, and knows the intents of you heart. Is your faith working for you, or standing alone, dieing of malnutrition. We need to feed upon the living word, and give food to our dieing faith, so it can do the work it was intended to do.  Start walking by faith and not by sight.