You don't know what you got til it's gone! This is how some people live their lives. Never appreciating what they have...never counting their blessings. The consequence for this type of sin is built in. It prevents us from enjoying what we already have. It led the Israelites to despise "manna from heaven". The bible tells us that as a man thinks in His heart so is he. How do you think in your heart? Do you focus on what you do not have instead of the many blessings God has given you? Some of us always think we would be happier if we just had what has been denied us. When we do this we are really saying that our God is not good and that in your case He is not doing things well at all. Thinking in this way toward God is the opposite of submitting to His will...thinking this way is rebellion against God and opens the door to many other sins.
I think the best example in Scripture of this type of sin and its end result is seen in Haman in the Book of Esther. Read a portion of Chapter 5.
Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
Did you get that last part. Haman was not able to enjoy any of his abundant blessings because one person did not bow down and worship him. His focus was on what was wrong...not what was right. It colored everything. Pride makes us so stupid. Haman's sin led to bitterness, hatred and finally a plot to murder Mordecai.
Hebrews 12:15 says this:
"looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; "
Bitterness and hatred grow unless they are dealt with ruthlessly. They will overshadow everything in your life if you allow them access to your heart. Haman's discontented spirit, pride, bitterness and hatred eventually led to him being executed on the very same gallows he had constructed for Mordecai.
Like Haman, your bitter and complaining spirit will backfire. You will be the one hurt by it. Don't hide it, don't nurse it and don't ignore it. As a believer whatever light you have for Christ will be overshadowed by your own complaining spirit. Ask for God's help in dealing with it. Surrender to the work of His Spirit in your heart...acknowledge it, confess it as sin and turn from it. Do not let it gain a foothold. Listen to not only the words that come out of your mouth but also listen to those things that you might be thinking in your heart that no one else hears. Your mind should be mainly on Jesus and others...very little time should be spent on you. This life is not about you...it is about Him. The best remedy for bitterness of spirit and a discontented complaining heart is confession and making a practice of meditating on the right things.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
BE THANKFUL....SMILE...STAY IN THE MOMENT...ENJOY IT...IT MAY BE YOUR LAST. The moment, as Amy Carmichael and others have said, is the window to eternity. It is all we are guaranteed. Live for the Lord in it. Love others in it. Be grateful in it.
