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"and that you may lack nothing." (in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
Well, we could get into an interesting discussion about what it means to "lack nothing".
(1) Ones can say it means you have any and all good things in your life. But . . . what is really good?
(2) And I could understand that to "lack" means to not have something that I really need. So, I could argue that "lack nothing" means not to miss out on things that are necessary, but it does not mean not to have what I don't need.
(3) But now I personally understand that to "lack" could also mean not to have things to enjoy, though I do not need them to stay alive.
"It means to not have anything that God wants for you."
I now understand that God does desire for us to have things for enjoyment, though they may not be practically necessary. But He is the One to know exactly what is really right for each of us How we are now, with our present preferences, will become "out-of-date" as we grow in Jesus; so it can be unwise to commit ourselves to only certain enjoyments which we can like, now.
Also > I keep finding how God brings me to more and better quality of enjoying with more creativity > I might keep on with a certain interest, but what I do with it develops more and more in sharing and loving with different people, and enjoying with God Himself . . . not only using things for pleasure and "escape".
So, just having a lot of something "might" not be what He means. But the quality of enjoying, including sharing with Him > this is good.
God "gives us richly all things to enjoy," we have in 1 Timothy 6:17; and "be content with such things as you have" (in Hebrews 13:5) > so trust our Heavenly Father to guide us while He does provide all He has for us . . . with our attention not only on seeing what we get, but first being attentive to Him and how He rules us in His peace and has us discovering the loving we do with Him.
And I think that ones who work for money can understand they are in their jobs so they can reach people for Jesus, not only make money.
And I do not work for money, but there are things I do which could be done for money. And I get more than I have ever thought of seeking, even practically. Every day, even, can be better than my past life, even in practical things and enjoyments. As we grow in Jesus, we grow into more and better living, no matter if we are getting older, and no matter how people and things might fail us, or people may die or leave us > still, there is always better, with God . . . but as we grow in Jesus and obeying in His love and personal leading in us.
"The LORD will guide you continually" (in Isaiah 58:11).
And His grace makes us able to be stable >
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (in 2 Corinthians 12:9)
His grace is almighty to keep us while also having us love and share with Him, personally, while we do all we do to love any and all people. So, yes > to lack nothing includes having this grace making us able and stable in doing good to love any and all people and to have one another, for doing this with one another
Well, we could get into an interesting discussion about what it means to "lack nothing".
(1) Ones can say it means you have any and all good things in your life. But . . . what is really good?
(2) And I could understand that to "lack" means to not have something that I really need. So, I could argue that "lack nothing" means not to miss out on things that are necessary, but it does not mean not to have what I don't need.
(3) But now I personally understand that to "lack" could also mean not to have things to enjoy, though I do not need them to stay alive.
"It means to not have anything that God wants for you."
I now understand that God does desire for us to have things for enjoyment, though they may not be practically necessary. But He is the One to know exactly what is really right for each of us How we are now, with our present preferences, will become "out-of-date" as we grow in Jesus; so it can be unwise to commit ourselves to only certain enjoyments which we can like, now.
Also > I keep finding how God brings me to more and better quality of enjoying with more creativity > I might keep on with a certain interest, but what I do with it develops more and more in sharing and loving with different people, and enjoying with God Himself . . . not only using things for pleasure and "escape".
So, just having a lot of something "might" not be what He means. But the quality of enjoying, including sharing with Him > this is good.
God "gives us richly all things to enjoy," we have in 1 Timothy 6:17; and "be content with such things as you have" (in Hebrews 13:5) > so trust our Heavenly Father to guide us while He does provide all He has for us . . . with our attention not only on seeing what we get, but first being attentive to Him and how He rules us in His peace and has us discovering the loving we do with Him.
And I think that ones who work for money can understand they are in their jobs so they can reach people for Jesus, not only make money.
And I do not work for money, but there are things I do which could be done for money. And I get more than I have ever thought of seeking, even practically. Every day, even, can be better than my past life, even in practical things and enjoyments. As we grow in Jesus, we grow into more and better living, no matter if we are getting older, and no matter how people and things might fail us, or people may die or leave us > still, there is always better, with God . . . but as we grow in Jesus and obeying in His love and personal leading in us.
"The LORD will guide you continually" (in Isaiah 58:11).
And His grace makes us able to be stable >
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (in 2 Corinthians 12:9)
His grace is almighty to keep us while also having us love and share with Him, personally, while we do all we do to love any and all people. So, yes > to lack nothing includes having this grace making us able and stable in doing good to love any and all people and to have one another, for doing this with one another
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