The economic hardships many people face today are a call on all of us to be grateful more than ever for every good thing we can find in our life.
As a practitioner, I pray for supply with people who can’t afford food for the day to businessmen running multi-million dollar businesses. And one of the basic spiritual principles we almost always come back to, is to look for the good that is obvious and be grateful for it. It has been proven time and time again that the blessings you recognize opens thought to see more supply right next to it.
When I hear people in the neighborhood, on the news, or at random complain about not having enough, I ponder, “I don’t think this is a time to complain.” And I remember the people who have far less to keep a sense of perspective on it all.
I think of the simple life Jesus lived. He owned the garment he wore, and that was about it. Yet, he never complained about not having enough. Why? Because he knew he was rich, wealthy and totally cared for. He never saw himself as lacking. He was spiritually minded.
If Jesus was ever tempted to compare his economic situation to another’s I’m convinced that he saw himself possessing much more wealth than anyone he saw because he knew real supply was love, gratitude, joy and faith in God, which he had in great amounts. Money and possessions were as dead weight to him. And so Jesus led a perpetually grateful life. He frequently thanked God for blessings before they appeared humanly, like the time he lifted the scant loaves and fishes up to heaven before feeding the hungry thousands. Jesus never lacked.
So, anytime we are tempted to complain that we don’t have enough, that we need something more, or covet a neighbor’s paycheck, it’s a call to be more grateful for the blessings we have, for they are great! They come from God and are freely given. They are the riches of life, truth and love.
So true! Thank you, Evan, for the reminder! good stuff!
Perhaps, but I don’t think complaints should outrightly be invalidated. After all if women hadn’t complained, they still wouldn’t be able to vote. If people hadn’t complained about the treatment of slaves, there’d probably still be slaves. If I don’t complain when someone treats me badly, how do they find out about the impact of their behaviour on others. Complaints have their place in the scheme of things I think.
To anon,
Points well taken…but I think you’re talking more about complaints toward injustice rather than ingratitude, which I would consider a different kind of complaining. Is that valid…?
True, I am thinking about injustice. But when people are complaining about not having enough, who is to say they are not also complaining about injustice? Someone mismanages and they get laid off? Someone else gets preferential treatment and they don’t get the promotion they deserve? The family down the road had more opportunities because they’ve been in the country longer, had time to get established, have networks etc. How is that not injustice? I guess I’m wondering how we can judge whether someone’s complaint is invalid or not?
“He frequently thanked God for blessings before they appeared humanly…”
And that’s the preferred order of things.
When you first complain you start from the wrong perspective, the limited human view of things.
When you first give thanks for all that is good, you start from the unlimited and transforming Divine perspective.
It really does work.