"Proud Or Grateful?"

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

 

I was in the doctor's office yesterday and when I first walked in the door, I heard a lady humming a Christian song. I sat down beside her and she started singing one of the old classics. She didn't care that the room was full-- she kept singing about Jesus. I told her I enjoyed it and we got to talking. I asked how long she had been waiting and she proceeded to tell me what an impatient person she was. I answered back with what the scriptures said about impatience and that it was a Fruit of the Spirit. She said, "Really?". She seemed to not know what I was talking about. She told me she has always sung even from a young age. She sang in church often and even now has won some awards for her singing. But throughout the whole time there, she was impatient, complaining, negative and didn't know much of anything about the Bible.

 

Just because you go to church doesn't mean you are the Church. Just because you hear preaching doesn't mean you are a doer of the Word. Just because you sing about Jesus doesn't mean you know Jesus. Many are like her-- church goers with a talent. They go on Sunday, they may even sing in the choir and hold positions in the church, but there is no evidence of Christ in their lives during the rest of the week. There is an old children's song that says, "If you're saved and you know, then your life will surely show it." She had a beautiful voice, and sang the "right" song, but had no personal evidence to back up what she sang. 

 

This lady was very proud of the talent that she had, but didn't know the One who gave it to her. Do the things that God has given you-- the blessings, the talents, the abilities, the wealth, etc.-- mean more to you He does? Are you proud of the "gifts" or grateful for them? Every good gift comes to us from God. Having pride doesn't just mean that you take credit for them. People with pride may even recognize that it came from God, but they don't live like it did. Gratitude for the gift is shown by wanting to get to know the One who gave it to you, by desiring to use it for the purpose in which He gave it, and by not using it for your own self but for Him. 

 

Have a great day. Your life will reflect whether you are grateful for or proud of the gifts and talents God has given you. 

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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