My devotional this morning had this prayer at the end;
Lord, help me to always have the courage to not allow others to take what is rightfully mine. Help me to confront what is wrong with the truth of Your Word. Amen
Now granted, I have not woken up in the best of moods after one more horrible night’s sleep but I cannot possibly say this prayer. And at the heart of the matter, I’m a fighter. When I see injustice to anyone I want to right the wrong. I want to go after what has been taken. However, all I hear in this prayer are the seagulls from Finding Nemo…Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine
To me this is what is wrong in all the world and I will confront this with truth. We’re all holding on a little too tightly to things that are not ours to begin with. If we loosened up our fists around the money we had rightfully earned what difference could we make in the world? If we unscrewed the top we have tightened over our free time that we have rightfully earned who would we have more time to impact? If we opened up our homes that our rightfully ours what kind of needs could we take care of? If we shared our talents that are rightfully ours what kind of creativity could be unleashed to change the world?
We are all a little too worried about protecting things that don’t need protecting. We are consumed with making sure we’re not getting screwed, or taken advantage of, or made to look stupid or vulnerable. I don’t think any of us are too generous or too gracious.
My prayer this morning is for us to free ourselves from this idea of what is rightfully mine. Let’s not be burdened by this skewed sense of justice. Let’s return to a state of humility and graciousness. Let’s live freely and give freely just as Christ has given freely to us.
Put yourself aside and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself…He didn’t claim any special privileges. Instead he lived a selfless, obedient life and then dies a selfless, obedient death–Excerpts from Philippians 2: 1-8 The Message
The Rabid Mime 
Could not agree more!! This is a HUGE problem in The Church today, and many Pastors will not tackle it due to fear of losing a contribution or two…… Thank you for having the courage to hit it head on.
Thanks for this great challenge, to be more generous. With our time. With our money. With our possessions. With our heart. Well spoken!
Thank you. It’s a constant challenge for myself as well.