Hello Everyone,
The title question is really just meant to open the floor for discussion -- I'm guessing that in most cases, people will say that yes, God limits our resources for a reason.
This isn't to say that there aren't times when we're meant to have more, or are being held back, or that we shouldn't keep asking, seeking, and knocking for a higher level of success. I'm sure we all have times where God is wanting to take us higher.
The things I'm thinking about are when people sometimes get into trouble when they have excess. I recently listened to an accountant who works for very wealthy clients, and he talked about one in particular who had gotten to a point of such extreme wealth, he was now living the life of Solomon, spending it all on women, wine, and wanton living. There was no luxury, want, or woman he would deny himself.
The accountant said that even though this client's life had long spiraled out of control, he had so much money coming in to support it, he saw no need to change.
And it doesn't have to be the ultra-wealthy, nor does it have to be about money.
I used to work with a woman who had been heavy-set her entire life. This was long before Ozempic, but she was able to lose a vast amount of weight through another means that was popular at the time. She had been married to her husband for many years -- I think all her life -- and had always talked about what a great guy he was, loving and supportive. He had accepted her even when she had been at her heaviest.
But once she lost the weight, for the first time in her life, men began to notice her. And she wound up leaving her husband to now explore the other "possibilities" that had not been available when she was heavy.
I've known others, just everyday middle-class people, who had problems with various things like alcohol, drugs, gambling, casual internet affairs -- but once they came into a little more money and/or a little more time, what might have been a "dabbling" before now became all-out addictions and full-time pursuits.
I have often thought about my own life, and how I should probably be thankful for my own limitations, because I don't know what kind of mischief I'd get into with a little extra money and a little extra time.
Now, I'm certainly not trying to say that poverty or being in lack to the point of it causing harm is a good thing in any way. I definitely believe there are legitimate needs, and that we as the body of Christ are called to help alleviate such suffering.
But I do often wonder if God sometimes puts caps on what we can obtain and what we can achieve -- because He alone knows the "little bit more" we're often striving for -- just might lead us into ruin.
How about you?
* Have you had instances where "a little bit more" of something wound up being more of a hassle than a help?
* Have you ever prospered in an area (time, talent, money, looks, authority, etc.) that wound up being harmful instead of helpful?
* Have you ever had to cut something back because too much of something was causing you to let it go to waste, misuse what you were given, or take for granted what you already had?
* Have you seen this in the lives of others -- finally reaching just a little too much -- and it wound up negatively affecting their lives?
I would be very interested in hearing your stories.
The title question is really just meant to open the floor for discussion -- I'm guessing that in most cases, people will say that yes, God limits our resources for a reason.
This isn't to say that there aren't times when we're meant to have more, or are being held back, or that we shouldn't keep asking, seeking, and knocking for a higher level of success. I'm sure we all have times where God is wanting to take us higher.
The things I'm thinking about are when people sometimes get into trouble when they have excess. I recently listened to an accountant who works for very wealthy clients, and he talked about one in particular who had gotten to a point of such extreme wealth, he was now living the life of Solomon, spending it all on women, wine, and wanton living. There was no luxury, want, or woman he would deny himself.
The accountant said that even though this client's life had long spiraled out of control, he had so much money coming in to support it, he saw no need to change.
And it doesn't have to be the ultra-wealthy, nor does it have to be about money.
I used to work with a woman who had been heavy-set her entire life. This was long before Ozempic, but she was able to lose a vast amount of weight through another means that was popular at the time. She had been married to her husband for many years -- I think all her life -- and had always talked about what a great guy he was, loving and supportive. He had accepted her even when she had been at her heaviest.
But once she lost the weight, for the first time in her life, men began to notice her. And she wound up leaving her husband to now explore the other "possibilities" that had not been available when she was heavy.
I've known others, just everyday middle-class people, who had problems with various things like alcohol, drugs, gambling, casual internet affairs -- but once they came into a little more money and/or a little more time, what might have been a "dabbling" before now became all-out addictions and full-time pursuits.
I have often thought about my own life, and how I should probably be thankful for my own limitations, because I don't know what kind of mischief I'd get into with a little extra money and a little extra time.
Now, I'm certainly not trying to say that poverty or being in lack to the point of it causing harm is a good thing in any way. I definitely believe there are legitimate needs, and that we as the body of Christ are called to help alleviate such suffering.
But I do often wonder if God sometimes puts caps on what we can obtain and what we can achieve -- because He alone knows the "little bit more" we're often striving for -- just might lead us into ruin.
How about you?
* Have you had instances where "a little bit more" of something wound up being more of a hassle than a help?
* Have you ever prospered in an area (time, talent, money, looks, authority, etc.) that wound up being harmful instead of helpful?
* Have you ever had to cut something back because too much of something was causing you to let it go to waste, misuse what you were given, or take for granted what you already had?
* Have you seen this in the lives of others -- finally reaching just a little too much -- and it wound up negatively affecting their lives?
I would be very interested in hearing your stories.
any more would end up being a massive distraction and a worldly anchor that I don't need or want .
