Open Hands

We've all heard the saying 'count your blessings' but sometimes, maybe more often then we want to admit, we take these things for granted. We begin to believe that we earned them bought them and are entitled to them. We stop recognizing them as gifts given to us out of His abundant love and care for us. Then, when and if, we lose them we are angry at God because He took them away. We blame Him instead of recognizing that He provided them in the first place and that all things truly belong to Him, even things He allows us to 'borrow' for a while.

I'm not sure this makes sense so let me back up. There's a song that I grew up singing in church. I'm not sure how popular it is these days but I remember, as a teenager, often singing "Blessed be Your Name" by Matt Redman. The song has these words.

"You give and take away,

You give and take away.

My heart will choose to say,

Lord, blessed be your name."

I think the most important part in these words is my heart will choose to say. See it is our choice whether or not we will praise the Lord. It's our choice to say 'thank you for these gifts' or 'why haven't you given me more?' It's our choice to find joy in every moment or always be so focused on the future that we miss the blessings right in front of us.

James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

God gives us gifts. Good and perfect gifts. Gifts of love, of family, of friends, of a roof over our heads, a car to drive and food to eat. It's easy to take these things for granted. It's also easy to cling to these things. To cling to them so tightly that we find our security in them. 

Matthew 16:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also."

See here's the thing. There's is nothing wrong with being delighted by the gifts God gives us. The Bible says that He, as our Father, delights in giving us good things and He's glad that we're delighted by those things. The danger comes when we start putting those things as more important in our lives then the One who gives them to us.

Let me get really personal here for a moment. If you're married or in a serious relationship that other person is likely the most important person or at least close to the most important person in your life. There is nothing wrong with that. God has given you that love and it should be celebrated and delighted in. But if your entire identity and security is so wrapped up in that person that you can't function without them then there's a big sign in front of you flashing 'Danger Will Robinson, Danger!' and you need to heed it.

God should always be the most important part of our lives. Without exception. Life is short and fleeting. Don't cling too tightly to the things and people that He's blessed you with. You'll risk strangling the life and joy right out of them for fear of losing them. Instead, hold everything with an open hand so if God does it away you're hand doesn't get broken in the process.

Will it hurt if you lose something or someone? Of course. But will He also give you something else to hold, possibly something different or something you never expected? Yes. And more importantly He will be holding your hand through the whole process. But you'll never feel Him holding your hand if your hand is still clenched wishing you could get that first gift back.