I recently
saw one of those cute dog posts on the internet, saying the following:
“So, you’re telling me
you have a whole box of treats but I only get one?”
After I
stopped giggling, I squirmed a bit. For who was I to laugh at this dog? I have often
dealt with that particular thought
myself.
And it’s
further complicated by the reality I am reward-oriented.
As I’ve
tried, over the course of my childhood, adolescence and adult years to
constructively deal with that fact, let’s face it, all too often, the bright
shiny rewards are just too tempting.
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own
lust, and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:14-15
Most of the
time, like our little canine friend here, I’ve looked to consume an entire box
or bag of something instead of eating one cracker, chip or cookie. Indeed, my
attitude…
“So, you’re telling me
you have a whole box of treats but I only get one?”
And, more
times than I care to count, I’ve looked to other things, instead of Elohim, to satisfy
me and be my substitute. And yes, that’s even while being a Christian.
I know- shocking!
But, before
you hyperventilate, please keep in mind, you, my friend, are mortal also.
“For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”
Psalms 103:14
Rewards on
the brain…are you guilty of this? C’mon, be honest.
And yes,
unfortunately, for many of us challenged by addictions, compulsions and
disorders, these elusive things are far too desirable to ignore. Ideally, we
would focus on our true, meaningful rewards, as connected to our loving Creator.
“After these things
the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Fear not, Abram: I am
thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.’”
Genesis 15:1
“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Colossians 3:24
Ideally, we
would concentrate on this, appreciating, thanking Him for it, being satisfied
and peaceful about the entire thing. But hey, c’mon, we’re dusty, remember?
So, this is
more like it…
“Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: everyone
loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards...”
Isaiah 1:23
Ouch! But
fortunately…
“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities. “
Psalms 103:10
Can I get a
massive Amen here, please? I mean, talk about being magnanimous! Done and then some!
Still many
an infomercial says it best; “but wait, there’s more!”
“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and
filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”
Psalms 107:9
And still
more good news to our doggie treat selves…
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me,
saying, ‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with
lovingkindness have I drawn thee.’”
Jeremiah
31:3
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.”
John 3:16
That
should be enough to have us all rip
roaring giddy about our lives.
But,
of course, us being us, that’s not the case, is it?
“As it is written:
‘There is no one righteous, not even one; There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God.’”
Romans 3:10-11
Fantastic.
So, we’re doomed to chase our sins and wind up in utter ruin?
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own
lust, and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:14-15
Sounds
like a great time.
So,
what’s the problem? Again, big shocker- Us!
“For what I am doing,
I do not understand...”
Romans 7:15
For
whatever unmet needs, excruciating pain and profound chaos or loss we’ve
endured in our lives, those issues which are often medicated by our chosen pain
relievers, we are still the common
denominator in our situation and- dare we cop to it- rebellion against The Most High.
We
have a bad bout of the tricky hearts.
“The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34
Those
suckers have lied to us, convinced us all we need is our addiction, all we need
to do is pursue it with everything in us and we’ll be happy…complete…pain-free…
After
all, how many stories do we have of “losing it all” for a particular addiction,
obsession or disorder?
The
treat we pursue is our short-term, flawed substitute. It will never deliver
on its outrageous campaign promises.
Never!
And
although this sounds mighty bleak, there is one gigantic ray of hope in what
could potentially be our miserable dog lives: our Heavenly Father.
HE
never left. And He knows how we’ve all looked for relief, happiness and meaning
in the wrong places. He knows how dusty our life experiences have been.
And,
whether it’s because of that or in spite
of that, He still chooses to work with us, even in the middle of our
distracted, unfaithful hearts.
“If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot
disown himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13
“And I will give them a heart to know
me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”
Jeremiah 24:7
Yeah,
yeah, yeah, I read it too- that last part
of Jeremiah- the one which, again, declares our rampant hopelessness.
Chasing Elohim with our whole heart? Us? The horrendous addicts?
Yep.
Because,
once again, the good news, even in spite of our treat-driven selves is The Most High…
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompense of reward.”
Hebrews 10:35
“And he said unto me, ‘My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me.”
2
Corinthians 12:9
He knows
exactly what He got Himself into with us. He knows the lures which dangle
before our hearts. He knows all of
it.
And, with that, in this meantime thing called
our imperfect lives, He is there, even equipped with rewards, blessings and
multiple chances to start again, do better and yes, fully turn to Him. No one
said it was going to be an easy, instantaneous thing.
So, right now,
what treat are you seeking- or binging on? It’s safe to be honest with Him. He
knows all about whatever empty box, bag, bottle, relationship or thing is in
your life, impersonating His Presence. He wants you to admit that treat is not
working for you. He wants you to know that’s HIS job!
And, yes, He
wants you to experience those real rewards.
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompense of reward.”
Hebrews 10:35
Copyright © 2017 by Sheryle Cruse
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