“Yesterday afternoon,” Stan began one morning, “I had an appointment over in Newburg with the pastor of the community church to talk about a discipleship class he’s putting together.”
“How’d that go?” I asked.
“Great,” Stan replied. “I think it’s going to be a very good class. The pastor and I are both prayerfully hopeful that people will be encouraged by what they learn about discipleship.”
Shifting the subject a bit, Stan added, “After our meeting, I stopped for a cup of coffee before I headed home. A TV was on and I watched an interesting interview by a business reporter.”
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Well,” Stan replied, “it seems that a fairly new tech company is getting ready to offer its stock for sale to the public for the first time. The CEO was being interviewed. Apparently she may be set to make a lot of money off of that.”
“It doesn’t appear that she needs it,” he continued, “since she has successfully brought a number of companies to the market and is already very wealthy.”
“But she may be even more wealthy,” I commented. “Sometimes I wonder how wealthy some people want to be, and why.”
“That was one of the interview questions for this CEO. At one point, the reporter asked her how much more money she wanted to accumulate until she thought she had enough.”
“How did she respond to that?” I asked.
“She laughed,” Stan replied, “and said, ‘Just a little bit more!’”
“Probably a pretty common response that reflects all of us,” I said. “Doesn’t matter how much we have, we want more.”
“That’s not necessary bad,” Stan replied, “if what we want more of is what God has for us, but that’s a different subject for another day. Right now I want to focus on what the interview with the CEO brought to my mind about wanting more worldly wealth.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I was reminded of a short story I read some time ago about this very subject,” Stan replied. “It’s one that Leo Tolstoy wrote well over a hundred years ago. It is called ‘How Much Land Does a Man Need?’ If you haven’t read it, I recommend you do so. It’s short and can be found online.”
“What’s the point of the story?” I asked.
“The devastation of greed,” Stan answered. “The character of the story wanted just a little bit more and it cost him everything. Rather than being satisfied, he wanted more. As I said, it’s a short read with a huge impact.”
“I will take a look,” I replied.
“Good,” Stan said. “Let me know when you’re ready to talk more about the good that can come from wanting more of what God has for us.”
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Bible verses to consider:
Two things I ask of Thee, do not refuse me before I die: keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9.
For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26.
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. 1 Timothy 6:10.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for all of your provision in every aspect of my life. Thank you that you want me to have all you have for me. I confess that too often I want more of what I want apart from you. Please forgive me for wanting anything other than what you have for me. Please help me in following every step of your lead in only wanting more of you and what you have for me, not wanting more of what self, the world, the flesh, and the devil may want for me. Please lead and help me follow. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you read the little story that is mentioned in this posting? If no, you should as it has much insightful wisdom. How would you define having “enough”? What does it mean to want more of what God has for you? How are you doing with that? As well as you would like? As well as you think God would like? If you sense changes may be called for, how are those changes going to happen?
Waiting for the Train 