“One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.”
Within the Book of James, the Holy Spirit speaks through James to remind us that good & perfect gifts come from God. As God feeds us honey-which is sweet to my taste-it is important to remember who the gift-giver actually is.
Even if MY money bought the gift-the honey-it was actually God who enabled me to make the money. God provided the opportunity, even if I sought it out. God gave me the ability to open the door, even if I had to walk up to it & turn the handle.
In the past, it has been easy for me to overlook God, the perfect gift giver, in seasons of abundance. Yet, I am also reminded of seasons where I lacked much. During those seasons, I made the mistake of rushing into jobs, quickly, just grateful to find work. Those jobs were lefts, when I should have focused my energy straight-ahead. Those jobs took me away from ministry opportunities, even if they filled my pocket with cash. Those jobs I look back on, and am grateful God granted me the wisdom to leave. When you are desperate, un-filled, even what is bitter can seem sweet.
Maybe, its important to make sure we are balanced in these areas. What does balance look like? Maybe it changes with the seasons.
However, in married life, I should take the time to make sure I am fulfilling my partner’s cup. While I am not her life-giver and ultimate source of happiness, God is & always will be, I do have a duty to provide intimacy, both physically& mentally. In these areas, I can help ensure that she is not deprived or overworked & stressed out.
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
A team is necessary to succeed. A team provides many benefits. I have noticed in my own life that when my life starts to fall apart, it is worse when I have no team.
I am thankful for the friends I have kept throughout the years. I am also thankful for the friends that stayed with me for just a few seasons. I am thankful for the coworkers I had that made work better. I am thankful for the family I was born with & the one I currently have.
Proverbs 27:19 (NLT): “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”
I believe it is important to consider this verse with verses like Jeremiah 17:9 & Romans 3:12-15. These verses show that human beings have evil hearts that do not seek good & are deceitful above all things. So on a large scale, without the new heart God gives us, humans are fallen & forsaken. This includes myself.
However, having been saved by God, my heart isn’t the old deceitful heart it once was. My real person is in the process of becoming the man God has created me to be. I know that this is a process of sanctification through the power of the Holy Spirit.
However, by taking moments to look at myself in reflection, I can see areas that my new heart is deceived temporarily by fleeting passions or desires that I lack control over. I agree that it is always good to take a self-inventory of my life & find balance with desires, temptations, and goals. God’s timing is perfect & God is the giver of good gifts. When I act out of His Will, I can not expect to receive good gifts from above, but instead, scorpions.
I would rather not receive scorpions.
“As in water face reflects face, so he heart of man reflects the man.”
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