The last Sunday in Ireland I heard a sermon that discussed Entitlement. We all think we are entitled to things. We all think we deserve things. We all think if we don’t get what we want things need to change, because I should have everything I want. As I write this, the electricity goes out, the fan stops, and I realize just how hot it is once again.
As an American we have been blessed beyond measure. Literally everything we could possibly want is at our fingertips. We can walk 5 steps to our front door for food when the bell rings. Stores are open after 6:00pm if not all night long! We have public parks that are kept clean and filled with beautiful places to spend time. We have clean RUNNING hot water multiple places in our house. If any little thing is wrong we have a 1-800 number to call to get things fixed! The question never exists whether we can get something, but rather if it will be in the color or pattern we desire.
Well in India things are different along with every other place in the world. Wi-Fi was found once this month. It took us over a week and a half to purchase Internet. Public streets are the public restrooms. Dessert is not served with any meal. You can search an entire day to find something and then find out it doesn’t even exist here. Just because you have the money doesn’t mean you can buy what you want. I could put 600 rupees on the table, which is $10 and demand a Dr. Pepper but I will never get it. Simple things like running down the street to grab a pop/soda/coke takes a plan with our translator to be able to go out to the local market. Life is simple here, but is hard work.
Another note from the message was that it doesn’t take character to complain. Often times I find myself complaining about the situation I am in because I know back at home I can fix every problem I have. That right there is the problem. Living in America we are so blessed that I sometimes feel it to be a curse. We CAN do everything on our own. We can choose to rely on God with every circumstance but we don’t have to. All to often we go to prayer as a last resort instead of our first instinct. God wants us to come to him for every little detail in our lives and have a true relationship with him. It is easier I feel sometimes to try to do things by myself before going to God.
This month has been very challenging. Each day we travel to a village and pray with people in their homes. Then we hold a service for everyone to attend. We often share the same stories between villages but try to share new ones also. We constantly have to go to God in prayer asking for strength and wisdom with what to share, and energy to get through each day.
We travel sometimes with 11 adults, 2 children, guitar, and drum in this SUV!!!
India is a very spiritual culture. Whether they are Christian or not they rely on God or gods for everything. They depend on Him or them for all their needs. They don’t have numerous ways to obtain the things they need/want on their own. I know we don’t get a lot of translation from the people but I don’t see them complaining. They are joyful in serving us with everything they have. They lay down their nicest rug before we enter each home to pray.
We are blessed to live in America. But the curse is not being pushed into situations that we must rely on God all the time. We are not entitled to anything we have. Nothing that we can do justifies what God has blessed us with. So instead of complaining about things I should rejoice in what God has given me. It’s hard to live this way but striving for contentment completely fulfilled in God is truly the best blessing one can have. It is easier to see this living outside of America. Everyday is a struggle but continually striving closer to the goal.
F.R.O.G. Fully Rely on God
