All In

All In

January 11, 2016

Deuteronomy 4:29  " But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and all your soul."

With all the media attention lately regarding a record lottery winnings potential, it is apropos to discuss.  While I do not play the lottery, it is tempting to day dream about the winnings, over a billion dollars.  My mind cannot fathom that much money at my disposal.  I was doing some math, however, and did calculate the taxes owed to the respective government agencies and that amount, too, is unfathomable.  Half of the winnings is lost to a lump sum payment if you want the money up front and more than half of what is left over is due for taxes.  Quickly, the amount of money remaining is a dizzying level compared to the initial jackpot.  The discussions people have regarding this scenario have them frustrated with their imaginary, unearned money.  Naturally, they want it all.  Emotionally, they are all in, as they expect something that is statistically not probable to happen.  But all in, they are, nonetheless, wanting something that will result in nothing.

I wish people were like this in their relationship with the Lord.  I wish they expected everything out of the Lord they could possibly have, every last drop.  If they did, it would change their emotional landscape and how much they invest in their relationship with Him.  But, people don't have enough faith to live that way. They are satisfied with just a little from the Lord and consequently put that same amount of little effort into the relationship.  Ironically, people have more to gain from the Lord than any lottery could offer.  And, statistically speaking, we are more likely to get every last bit from the Lord as compared to winning the lottery.  To get every last bit the Lord has for you, you must be all in.  It is a full commitment into Him and the winnings are limitless.  He offers: peace, fulfillment, joy, security, forgiveness, and eternity with Himself.  What a jackpot!

But to get that jackpot, the whole jackpot, you have to have the whole of you committed.  It takes ALL to get ALL.  Whatever level you want, you can have of Him.  If you want a little peace, you can have a little.  But why in the world would you just want a little peace?  It's like winning the lottery and telling the issuing authorities to keep the money, because you only want enough to buy dinner for the night.  How absurd.  This is exactly what we do with the Lord.  We limit the life of abundance because we limit our commitment to Him.  Because of this, the Lord limits us, sometimes even tests us.  If you doubt this, He tested the Israelites.  He wanted to see if they were actually serving Him wholeheartedly.  If the Lord put you through the test, would you pass?  Would you be found to be all in, fully committed?

There are days I would not pass that test, consequently I have left blessings on the table.  I doubt I have received everything in this life the Lord had intended for me.  I essentially told the Lord to withhold His blessing by my actions.  You've done that, too, whether you want to admit it or not.  The Lord has something for you, an abundance to meet that specific need, only you're actions, or lack thereof, are keeping you from receiving them.  You aren't quite all in today.  And if you are all in, without receiving what you need, then maybe He is testing to see if you'll still serve Him wholeheartedly.  Start day dreaming about the life you can have if you invest fully in the Lord.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Deut 10:12, Deut 13:3, Deut 15:10, Deut 30:1, Josh 23:14, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Matt 22:37, Mark 12:33, John 10:10