Soul Kitchen

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." ~ James 4:1-3 (NIV)

One thing I struggle with is looking around at others and seeing what they have and where they get to go for trips and then coming home and trying to be content with what I have. I have a roof over my head.... it's ours though that we bought on our own.... We go on vacation every year and create our own memories with our children.... it's not Mexico or Hawaii, Disneyland or camp each year for my children but our own place we go to each year to spend time with our kids. I struggle with inadequacy and jealous feelings that I cannot do the expensive trips with my kids and buy them all the things I see other people buying for their children. Sometimes I am tempted to just go for it and do what others do, and say who cares to taking a line of credit out so that I can do these things for my children.

Sometimes my children complain that their friends all get to go to Disneyland and how come we can't. Our friends get a new bike when they need it and we can't. Why do we have to buy a used bike? Why can't my bedroom be like my friends' bedroom and why can't I paint it and have all matching furniture? Why can't I get whatever I want? Why can't we go out for dinner more often? Why? Why? Why?..... the list goes on.

One thing as a parent I'm thankful for is that even though my children don't understand money and the struggles of raising a family in today's society, they have just what they need. I may hear them complain when they look at others around them but we have each other and I know when they're adults that they'll appreciate the way they were brought up. We don't have debt hanging over our heads. We are responsible with our finances and buy what we need. Our motto at home is "is it a need or a want?" There are many times that my children need to remind me of the same thing when I see something on sale that would be nice. We hold each other accountable.
James 4 says "we will kill and covet but we cannot have what we want." The Message says "you want what isn't yours and risk violence to get your hands on it." To me this can be speaking about gossip and slander and how easy it is to judge someone for the decisions they make in regards to their life. I know I can do that where I see where someone is taking their family for a trip or purchases something outrageous for their child or family and it's easy for me to slander or gossip about that other person because it makes me feel good about where I'm at. That is wrong and sin.

God wants me to remain humble and have a thankful heart. In everything! I may not be the richest financially but I can be thankful that I'm the richest person spiritually because I have Jesus! When I take my eyes off Jesus and align them with the world I see things in the worldy way, not Jesus's way. The world wants us to take our eyes off Jesus and look around at us and be discontent with what we have. God gives us what we need and sees our heart. Ask..... with the wright motives. James says we ask but don't receive because we ask with wrong motives, that we can spend what we get on our own pleasures.

Align your heart with God's. Keep your eyes to Jesus and not with the world. Be thankful for what you have. It's my daily prayer for myself.