Spoiled Brats

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:1-3

No one wants to be called a spoiled brat.

From time to time each of us behaves like one.  When we do, it’s important to call out the behavior for what it is.  We can’t sugarcoat it.  That just gives opportunity for the behavior to continue all the more—even glorifying it and making it “cute”.  But it’s not.  Cute, I mean.

So, why are we even talking about bratty behavior in this blog post, anyway?  Well, it's because there is far more of this evidenced in grown adults than ever before.  The wise adult, one who feeds others with Godly wisdom and exemplifies Christ, is a rarity these days—in any culture.  It is as though we have returned to the days of Noah.

Sound familiar?

In Matthew 24:37-39 Jesus prepares us for such a time as this, saying, "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (KJV).

But are we listening?

Jesus does even more than this.  He tells us exactly what we should be doing.

Matthew 24:45-46 encourages us with these words, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing" (KJV).

Jesus isn't just talking about physical food here.  He's referring to spiritual food—the food of the Kingdom of God.  So, are we doing this?  Are we feeding our Lord's household as He instructed us in Matthew 28:19-20?

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

Let's be about our Father's business and not act like spoiled brats.  There is much work to be done.

Goodnight, Runners.