Wednesday, September 5, 2012

How Much is Enough?...

We have now lived in the USA for over two years since working 20+ years overseas. This is the longest that we have been back in our home country since our first children, Daniel and Sarah, were born. It has been nice even though a large part of our hearts are still back in Asia where we spent most of our time.

One of the things that pulls on us is having to settle into and deal with the American way of life. We aren't complaining. This is a wonderful place. But the pull towards the standard of living, having things and still needing more things, is still a struggle for us. We now own a house (or a "mortgage" as I like to say), multiple vehicles (because there is no really good way to do public transportation in this great country), and lots of "stuff" to go in that house we are living in. But a nagging question (and I hope it always remains a nagging question) is, "how much is enough?"

This morning, I read again the heart-stirring verses in Psalm 16:5-6. In Israel, when it came time for the tribes to inherit the promised land, the areas were allotted to each tribe at God's direction. Every tribe received their land inheritance complete with borders based upon their size and need. However, the priestly tribe, the Levites, received no apportioned area of land due to the fact God was to be their portion.

If I'm an average Israelite, my inheritance would be land (this speaks to my heart language since I am an agriculturist). However, if I'm of the tribe of Levi, I don't get land but I get a chance to be totally dependent on God. Hmmm....

The spiritual part of me wants to say that I want to be the devout Levite getting God as my portion. The practical (and American, western-culture side of me) says that I really would rather have the land. After all, I was always taught that you can't go wrong investing in land (Palmer family ethos). "Land" as my inheritance or God Himself?...

Could I really say, from my heart, the same as King David...

"Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance." (Psalm 16:5-6)

How much is enough? Shouldn't God be enough for all of us?

Selah!

2 comments:

  1. Kana gyud ang among kanunay nga pangutana sa among kinabuhi diri sa atong nasod. Usahay makasubo kay mora ug ang among citizenship nganhi na ug dili sa langit kay ang mga luxuries sa ubang nasod, necessities man diri sama sa sakyanan ug uban pa. Hinoon, gitugutan man kita sa Ginoo nga mag-enjoy sa iyang mga gasa. Hinaot lang nga magpadayon kita nga maayo nga tinugyanan sa mga panalangin.

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