Loved the gift, but…

Elise Aleman
Banquet of Ungratefulness
20 x 24 inches.
Oil on Canvas

The expression, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth?” is recited when a critical or unappreciative attitude is felt over something good being is offered.

Does your lack of faith keep you looking back instead of moving forward? You are not alone; God miraculously rescued the Hebrews from their enslavement in Egypt and promised a land “filled with milk and honey” (a reference to abundance); yet as soon as an obstacle arose the enthusiasm was forgotten. Their eyes were focused on the wilderness leading to the Promised Land instead of the promise. They cried “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic.” -- Numbers 11:5

Having lived through the most epic rescue ever perhaps they thought a mansion on the Mediterranean and a life of ease and luxury would ensue. I mean didn’t they suffer enough already; didn’t they deserve it?  

Sound familiar? “You deserve this, you earned it” even McDonald’s chimes in, “You deserve a break today!” Do we? Do we really? It’s easy to point the fingers at the Hebrews and say, “how ungrateful” but we do the same exact thing.

The truth is that God loves us unconditionally and wants the best for us. But we are very short-sighted, focusing only on what we see, setting our eyes horizontally towards things of this world. God’s best is much bigger. He sees the big picture; He sees all the way to eternity. It’s time to be honestly grateful and stop judging His gifts by the world’s standards and have faith in the fact that no matter how things look He is always in control.

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins and for giving me even when I’ve been ungrateful. Help me set my eyes on things above and not on earthly treasures. In Jesus’ name, Amen.