More than Enough

God gives more than you need and tests your heart to see what you will do out of your abundance.

“There was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine...Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe on them, and the land became Pharaoh’s. Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth."

Genesis‬ ‭47‬:‭11‬, ‭13‬, ‭16‬, ‭20‬, ‭23‬, ‭26‬

Imagine having nothing and no end in sight to a time of famine. What would you do? The people sold all that they had and even sold themselves as indentured servants to make it through another day. Where did they go wrong? How did they end up in that situation? Unlike Joseph, they did not build margin into their lives nor save anything for a time of need.

In this story Pharaoh gets twenty percent of their goods. Sounds a lot like our current taxes. Wisdom will tell you that we give God ten percent or more back to God and we should save what we can. John Wesley said he made all he could, saved all he could, and gave all he could. Do we have the same mindset? Or do we spend what we have and then if we make more in turn spend more?

“For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth. He chooses our inheritance for us."

Psalms‬ ‭47‬:‭2‬, ‭4‬ ‭

Have you ever received an inheritance? Do you plan to leave an inheritance? What will be left when all your work is done? David says God choose our inheritance, but the bigger question is if we will receive all that He has for us. The inheritance God has is a spiritual blessing where we can choose to receive His peace, joy, grace, and Holy Spirit led life. Have you received those blessings or forfeited your inheritance by focusing on things other than what God has for you?

"You are all beautiful, my love...How beautiful is your love...How much better is your love than wine"

Song of Solomon‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬, ‭10‬ ‭

The love of Jesus is perfect. There is nothing that can compare to His compassion and care for you. Yet, where do we place spending time with Him and abiding in the perfect love He has for us? How have you built margin into your calendar? What would happen if you spent more time with Him? How would receiving more of His love empower you to give more to others?

“you have trusted in your wickedness. You have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and your knowledge has perverted you. You have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’” ‭‭

Isaiah‬ ‭47‬:‭4‬, ‭6‬, ‭10‬ ‭

Isaiah gives a grim warning to people who focus on themselves and do not pay attention to others. It is easy to live as though the world is all about you. It is not, but when we isolate or focus on what we want to get rather than what we can give, we can drift away from our savior.

“Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.” Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.” John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water...He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized and was praying. The sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.” Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬, ‭16‬, ‭21‬-‭22‬

What advice does John have to people who want to draw closer to God? He says to be who you are trusting God for what you need. He says only take what you need. Live on what you need. God is going to give you more than you need and see what you do with what you have. Will you be grateful and experience the joy that comes from being content with what you need as you recognize that it all comes from God?

We live in a world that focuses a lot more on wants that needs. Do you have a budget for your finances? A plan for your calendar? Goals for your personal growth? You have been baptized with by the Holy Spirit with the spirit that is meant to guide you to a life of freedom and peace. God is calling you to a life where you build in margin, save what you are able, find freedom from things that hold your heart captive, and out of your abundance look for ways in which you can bless others financially, relationally, emotionally, and spiritually. Joseph was able to help guide people because he planned ahead. Will you?