The Haves and the Have Nots

On my five-minute drive home from work today, I heard two lines of a sermon from Tony Evans. I remember only one of them. It went something like this:

"If you are busy thinking about what you don't have instead of what God is doing, then you are in enemy territory."

Though I had spent quite a bit of time over the last few days reflecting upon what I have lost, my heart was disguising this dialogue as a supplement and not a replacement. Surely I can think about what God is doing and still maintain a little energy for self-pity, right? I'm just being a realist here...no need to start talking about "enemy territory."

Both Paul and Tony seem to disagree with me:

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8).

Wow. I consider anew the losses that have plagued me, each bandying about its own fears and threats as though it was of ultimate importance. Loss of efficiency. Loss of beauty. Loss of self-sufficiency. Loss of physical comforts.

While it's not wrong to notice these things and even to be saddened by them, it is wrong to dwell on them. It is wrong not to take these thoughts captive by considering who the Lord is and what He is doing. Why? Because those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Want more evidence? I wish you could have seen what a miserable few days I've had; that experience would illustrate the point better than I can do with my words. As my mind has been focused on fleshly matters, I have reaped a harvest of profound bitterness (to which several of my friends can attest). Should I have been suprised at the hostility that I felt toward God? Or in the disobedience that rapidly followed those first allowances of self-pity? At what price did I buy those trinkets for myself?

"Father, heal me from the nearsightedness that sees only my loss. Enable me, by your Spirit, to see the presence of your hand in my life and to look toward my future with faith. Because I trust in you, I will not feel sorry for myself. Because I have been raised with Christ, I will seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. I will set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For I have died, and my life is hidden with Christ in You (Oh! What security!). And when Christ who is my life appears, then I also will appear with him in glory." This is my hope and my comfort. Have or have not, I shall not want."