Extra-Extra-Extra

Jesus Christ…became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.  2 Corinthians 8:19

There certainly are things I enjoy a little extra of!  A little extra coffee, a little more time to linger on the porch visiting with friends and family or just a little extra sleep from time to time to list a few.  One of the lessons my parents were HUGE on teaching was not to be greedy.  Clear as a bell I can hear them say, “Be grateful for what you have because being greedy for more is ungratefulness and that’s ugly.”  It was a great thing for them to teach me and it’s one of those things that sticks!  I was praying with this scripture from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians and I realized that this important lesson from my parents often creeps into my prayer life.

After some thought, I realized that my prayer view slides a little sideways from time to time.  I’m really good at asking God to take care of people and situations and the needs of others.  I mean, who doesn’t pray every day for people to get better or get jobs or get back on track.  I’m really good at praising him and thanking him but I don’t often ask for his riches and heaping doses of his grace.  I guess I feel blessed and thankful and I don’t want to be greedy.  Upon careful thought, I realized I was trying to be like an A student to God.  I wanted to keep a low profile, do my homework (daily prayer) and try like crazy to keep my nose in my own business and be obedient.  I don’t think that’s all God wants for me.  That’s actually a little robotic and not very “relationship-ish”.

God sent his son to suffer and die so we could be rich.  Not rich in the money sense but rich in his grace, mercy and love.  We were made for happiness.  We were made to be saints and that’s work we can’t do alone.  He’s waiting to give us extra!  He spent everything; his blood, sweat, tears and very life to make us rich in him and I was too afraid to ask for personal extras.  How crazy is that!  It’s not like there is an expiration date on his gifts like a coupon.  He will never say, “Sorry Sheri, you should have asked for joy and patience last week, I’m afraid that request is not valid past last Friday.”  There are also no limits or strings to our requests either.  I’m pretty sure he will never flash a sigh like you see in the grocery store on a great deal that says “limit 5 with additional $5 purchase”.  He’s not going to run out of grace or attach strings or conditions to his gifts. 

He died so we could be rich so why am I living like I have empty pockets?  I’ve decided that something I want extra of is joy and compassion.  I’m going to ask for extra forgiveness and a lot of extra peace and kindness.  It doesn’t make us greedy, it makes us trusting and it makes us rich.  It doesn’t make me ungrateful because it’s not about me…it’s about him and the things he wants to make me because of his gifts.  I don’t know about you, but I’m going to ask for lots of extra things starting today…right after I get some extra coffee!

A Seed To Plant:  Take out a sheet of paper and across the top write EXTRA-EXTRA-EXTRA and then make a list of all the things you need to ask God for extra of so you can become rich in him!​

Blessings on your day!