Are You a Hoarder?

Photo by EJ Strat on Unsplash

The children of Israel were facing severe persecutions from the Egyptians and asked God to deliver them from the evil Pharoah. God heard and answered their prayers when he sent Moses to lead them to the land of freedom. In (Exodus 16: 4-5), God told Moses that he would provide for them as he would give bread from heaven. As they traveled through the desert many began to reflect on all the foods and riches they had in Egypt and complained and wished they were back there. God heard them and told Moses that he would make provision with bread and meat in the wilderness. God shared his expectations on how they should gather the manna when it rained down from heaven. They would only collect a certain amount every day, no more and no less. This was to prove if they trusted Him and would follow his law. God reminded them that on the sixth day, they would prepare twice as much for the Sabbath which was the day of rest. God also gave them flesh to eat. Why is it so difficult to follow what He requires of us? Just as with the children of Israel, they began to complain, as we often do. As individuals, we are never satisfied. God tells us in Matthew 6:11 in the Lord’s Prayer that he makes provision for us daily. Why can’t we trust Him? If our Heavenly Father watches over the fowls of the air, (v26) feeds and provides for their needs and continues to supply for the lilies of the field (v28) that do not work, but He allows their attractions to transform our world even more beautiful than Solomon. We should follow the antidote for the children of Israel as He does for us today. He wants us to be free from anxiety, to trust Him and to believe in His promises. God wanted the Israelites to follow the plan he had set for receiving the manna by allowing them to avoid problems with food spoilage, supply diminishing and offering time of rest. How thoughtful is our God! He continues to make the same provisions for us today. In Proverbs 3:6, God encourages us that in all our ways if we seek and acknowledge him He shall direct our paths.

He has blessed many of us with amazing jobs and careers where he wants us to seek opportunities towards the furtherance of his Kingdom. What must we do? How can we serve Him better? Has He blessed us with these bountiful resources just to hold on to them for ourselves? No! Have we become a hoarder of material things and of His rich Word? Many people like to see how many cars, gadgets, and other things they can attain for their vain glory. As the children of Israel, they wanted to collect more bread for themselves and failed to understand that God provided all they needed. Have you become a hoarder? Do you hold on to things that you know someone else could benefit from, but you just keep it for no reason? Do you feel that God is leading you to share your story about coming to Him? Instead, you hold on to the message bubbling up in your heart because you don’t think anyone would want to hear it. You are hoarding the message that God has placed in your heart. Your story maybe shared to bring that individual to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let us as noted in (2 Corinthians 9:7) realize that God loveth a cheerful giver and we must not hoard up our personal things or deliverance stories in our life that God could use to help individuals know Him personally. Myles Munroe has said that the cemetery is one of the richest places. Why you may ask? People had made promises to write a book, create a project that could make life easier, start a business, change a career or become a famous singer, doctor, lawyer but they just held on to or hoarded up their dreams and never initiated them to make them a reality.

Do not be a hoarder! Trust God, he will and can meet your every need. Everything that he has promised that he will do to further His Kingdom. How can you use all the gifts that God has given and not hoard them?