One Word

from the website for the new TV drama "Windfall"
Money Changes Everything - Watch what happens to a group of friends when they all go in together and participate in the state lottery and win. Lives will change forever as they quickly learn that money changes everything they ever knew about each other. Relationships will grow and friendships will be torn apart. People's secrets will be revealed and mysteries will be solved.

There is one word that describes the phenomenon around lotteries. It is the same word behind the success of Provincial/State run lotteries and casinos. It's the motivation lurking behind consumerism, and the bedrock of materialism. The word is a malady in North America, but virtually non-existent in the developing world. It's antonym represents the answer to much of what ails us, a breath of fresh air into a beleagured church, and the hope found in Jesus Christ.

The word is "discontent"

We just don't have enough. We aren't satisfied with what we have. We want more. We want better. We want what they have. We have what they want and we want to keep it that way.

In Mark 6 and 8 the gospel writer records Jesus feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000. The point of the story isn't the miracle of the feeding, or the bounty of the leftovers (count the jewish and the gentile leftovers). It can be found in 6:42 and 8:8..."They all ate and were satisfied". In the economy of God's grace and His sabbath there is enough for the twelve tribes of Israel and his provision is complete for gentiles. In the Sabbath economy of grace the bounty of the land will be harvested and the poor will have enough to eat. In the feeding stories the people are satisfied because there is enough for everyone. Paul writes, "My grace is sufficient for you"...It's enough. Yahweh provided enough manna for Israel everyday. They weren't to horde or store, but to wait on Him for their provision (Exodus 16). He provided enough. Isaiah reminds us we will be content if we take care of the needs of the poor, and in the result will be Yahweh's guidance and provision for all of our needs (Isaiah 58). We'll have enough.

Joni Erickson Tada in her book, "When God Weeps" tells a story of children living on the street in a Calcutta ghetto. She shares how she was invited to attend a church service and as she manoevres her wheelchair through the streets she can hear the sound of singing. Approaching the location of the service she finds children singing joyous songs while crawling through the filth of the street on the stumps they have for legs. Joni attributes their joy to one word. They are "content" in the Lord. We're always quick to add, "yes, but they don't know any better" as if such a glib remark could extinguish our discontented guilt. Content is the same word which comes to mind when I watch the Partners in Mission video showing a young boy without legs, dancing around a courtyard on crutches singing, "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Take a holiday from discontent. Be content in the Lord. Rest in Him and enjoy His Sabbath. God will guide and provide for your needs. Jesus will give you enough, and His Holy Spirit will endue you with power enough to stand.

rZ