Less is More

A number of people have approached me with statements like, if only I had….then…;  if only I made more money, I would go on a mission trip; if only I got that promotion, then I could make a greater influence for God at my job;  if only I had more time I would go volunteer at a soup kitchen.  What if there are times where the greatest barrier is having too much?  We have so much money that we begin to trust our money more than God.  Having too much influence, and we begin to think it is by our own strength and power that change can occur.  Having too much time that we begin to believe we can do more because of our own time management skills, and our generous use of time.  We can forget that God is our source of all things, and it is by his strength, his empowerment, his wisdom that we can do anything.

 

In the book of Judges a man named Gideon was preparing the Israelites for a battle against a group called the Midianites.  As Gideon woke up to prepare for battle God said to him You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ (Judges 7:2)  What a ridiculous concept; you have too many men in war, is that possible?  Look at why God believes Gideon has too many men, for the reason that they might think their own strength won the battle, not God.  So God takes the army of 32,000 men and trims it to 300.  Then God looks at the 300 and again if they carried weapons into battle they might think it is by their own strength they won, so God instructs them to bring only clay jars and torches.  The Midianites panic, attack one another, and run for the hills.  That day no one would ever think the strength of the Israelites led to victory, only God could have won that battle.

 

Sometimes we need less for God to work best through us.  Sometimes we need a reminder from 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  God’s power is made perfect in our imperfection, in our weakness.  Having less in your life may be a place that God is looking to do more through you.  God may be removing something from your life that you place your trust in more than God, be it money, technology, programs, power, friendship, or material possessions.  Do we only see road blocks, or can see God’s hand at work even in unlikely circumstances in our lives?

 

Pastor Bill

 

Discussion Questions

 

  1. What do you see as a road block in front of you?
  2. What do you place your trust in?