Craving or Giving?
We live in such a consumer culture in the USA that many people are constantly craving something. The cravings are fed by a media that show us all types of products to entice us to crave them. The craving is bad enough, but when we combine the desire to receive with being lazy or being a sluggard, it is a deadly combination. Solomon knew that, and the Lord had him warn us about it. (Proverbs 21:25,26) We need to know the opposite of craving and practice it, so we can be blessed by God, instead of losing our lives.
Often, we see how lazy people are never satisfied. They want more and more, and more. However, they do not have the desire to work for what they have. Therefore, their craving causes them to do things that lead to death. Perhaps, they lie and steal to meet their craving. Then, their behavior causes them great harm or death. The opposite of this is giving. The righteous gives and does not hold back. Jesus told us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. He has told us to be generous, and by the measure we give, it will be measured back to us. (Luke 6:38) What a contrast! One person, the sluggard, sits and craves. The other person, the righteous, works and gives. Which one will we be? One leads to death, the other to blessing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 22-24.
Often, we see how lazy people are never satisfied. They want more and more, and more. However, they do not have the desire to work for what they have. Therefore, their craving causes them to do things that lead to death. Perhaps, they lie and steal to meet their craving. Then, their behavior causes them great harm or death. The opposite of this is giving. The righteous gives and does not hold back. Jesus told us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. He has told us to be generous, and by the measure we give, it will be measured back to us. (Luke 6:38) What a contrast! One person, the sluggard, sits and craves. The other person, the righteous, works and gives. Which one will we be? One leads to death, the other to blessing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 22-24.