08.27.07
“ENOUGH!”
Exodus 36:6-7
“Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”
Do you ever feel that you do not belong? You find yourself in a situation or with a group of people that you suddenly know that you should not be with. There is a feeling in the pit of your stomach that churns with a feeling of revulsion and you feel like running into the arms of the Lord.
I was surrounded by a scene of drinking and revelry that offended and shocked me. As an Air Force officer I was assigned to a small isolated unit far from home. Officers who had shown moral principles before coming to this place, were now living like there was no tomorrow.
As the Personnel Officer for the Squadron, I knew that I was required to spend one year in this environment. I prayed and asked the Lord for strength to endure. Each time I went to the dining hall for a meal, I would bow my head and thank the Lord for the food and for the strength to let my light shine.
One evening we had a special dinner in the officer’s lounge. As we were preparing to eat, the commanding officer asked for attention. He then asked me if I would return thanks for the food. I was shocked by his request and wondered why he had made that request.
As we began to eat, he asked me about my faith. He said that he had noticed that I never entered into the drinking bouts with the others and asked why. I shared my convictions and commitment to remain true to the Lord, even if it meant spending most of my time alone in my room. He looked around the table and said, “You men listen carefully. If I hear of any of you trying to entice Cecil to do things against his convictions, you will answer to me!” From that moment on I had a ministry to the men that exceeded that of a chaplain, had I been one.
Thinking back on that situation, I have just been sickened by reading of the terrible eccesses of many television evangelists. It is one thing to ask for funds to carry out ministry objectives, but when the funds are used to pay for their expensive lifestyles, then I hang my head in shame.
Million dollar weddings, hundreds of thousands for jewelry, millions of dollars for homes, millions for personal jets, Huge sums to buy luxury automobiles, plastic surgery, just to list some of the things which these people indulge themselves in.
In today’s Scripture we read about Moses as he went about the task of building the Tabernacle in the wilderness. He had called upon the people to bring in all sorts of precious items to be used in the project. They had responded and all of the materials had been given. It was then time for Moses to issue a decree; “ENOUGH!”
When is “enough” going to sink into our comprehension? There are specific needs around us, but those needs are sure not for us to lavish ourselves in luxury while at the same time claiming to be giving to those in need.
It is time to say, “enough” to the things of the world which entice us. It is time to say, “enough” to low living with high sounding religiosity. It is time to say, “enough” to so called spiritual leaders who say one thing and do another. One of these men was quoted as saying the following on June 20, 2005; “I don’t get into controversial subjects like sin and judgment. False religions such as Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism don’t concern me. I don’t really know who’s going to hell and who isn’t.”
May God have mercy on us and preserve us from shepherds who feed themselves and allow their flock to scatter!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
- - - Pastor Cecil