by Linzy Slayden
I have long felt that one of the particular temptations of the maturing Christian is the danger of getting accustomed to his blessings. Like the world traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, the maturing Christian is in danger of taking his blessings for granted and getting so accustomed to them they fail to excite him as they once did.
It was Emerson, I believe, who said if the stars came out only once a year, everybody would stay up all night to behold them. We have seen the stars so often that we don’t bother to look at them anymore. We have grown accustomed to our blessings.
Israel in the wilderness got accustomed to her blessings, and God had to chasten the people. God had fed the nation with heavenly manna each morning, the very food of angels; and yet the people were getting tired of it. “But now is our soul dried away,” they said, “there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes” (Numbers 11:6).
Nothing but manna! They were experiencing a miracle every morning, yet they were no longer excited about it. Nothing but manna!
One of the evidences that we have grown accustomed to our blessings is this spirit of criticism and complaining. Instead of thanking God for what we have, we complain about it and tell Him we wish we had something else. You can be sure that if God did give us what we asked for, we would eventually complain about that! The person who has gotten accustomed to his blessings can never be satisfied.
We in ministry have heard our share of criticism from people. I have learned to listen to honest, sincere criticism and tried to profit from it; but I have learned to pay little attention to the “wilderness grumblings” of the disgruntled saints who had gotten accustomed to their blessings.
In our families, our children go through this stage, usually early in adolescence. Every local church has its share of members who are like this.
I believe God is grieved when we are accustomed to our blessings and start to complain and criticize.
The only cure for the sin of getting accustomed to our blessings is this: constantly give thanks to God for all He gives and does. A thankful heart, lost in the wonder of God’s grace and goodness, will never take God’s blessings for granted.
The BBFI has been blessed. We are not without challenges but we have been blessed and we continue to be blessed. We will have to restructure NCPO but we will emerge stronger, more creative, and very local church oriented. BBFI missions is the best in the world. Our colleges are preparing students to be world-changers. Our churches are preaching the soul-saving, lifesaving gospel of Jesus Christ. We enjoy a wonderful Fellowship.
I invite you to come alongside and make our Fellowship stronger and more effective. Our world needs the BBFI! I am glad I am part of it!