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I Have Plenty, Part 1

Daily Reflection / Produced by The High Calling
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"My brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have for yourself."

Genesis 33:9

I'm struck by Esau's statement: "I have plenty," or as the ESV puts it, "I have enough." No doubt there's literal truth in this statement. Esau doesn't need more "stuff." And perhaps Esau doesn't want to let it appear that his forgiveness was purchased. Whatever the precise reasons, Esau is able to say, simply, "I have plenty."

What about us? Can we ever say "I have plenty"? Everything around us seeks to convince us otherwise. We can never have enough. There are always more things to be purchased, whether we need them or not. We can be easily sucked into the cyclone of endless acquisition, working ourselves to death because we can never say to ourselves, "I have plenty."

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Can you say to yourself: "I have plenty"? Are you caught in the web of conspicuous consumption? Do you need God's grace to set you free, so that you might be satisfied with what you have?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, unlike Esau, I find it hard to say "I have plenty." Oh, it's not that I don't have all that I need and so much more. But I find it so easy to become restless, to yearn for the next thing. Some of the things I desire aren't bad. Yet my need for new things draws me away from you, not to mention the mission of your kingdom.

Help me, dear Lord, to be satisfied with what I have. Give me wisdom about my desires and purchases. Set me free from never having enough. Help me to be like Esau, so that I might truly say, "I have plenty." Amen.

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