So Much More

The lottery! Who doesn’t think about the seemingly limitless possibilities of a $2 investment for a $200 million purse? Whether it’s choosing a list of numbers playing Mega Millions, a scratch off ticket, or a raffle by a local sports team for a free weekend getaway to the mountains people have been captivated for generations by the illusion of what having a little more could do for them.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve, living in a place of perfection with every need being met still craved the alluring fruit that was forbidden by God. The Hebrew children believed a golden calf would quench a thirst of worship that God himself didn’t seem to provide. The nation of Israel demanded the leadership and authority of an earthly king because they felt God was withholding something that their contemporaries had been given.

We all wish we could have a little more. More money. More stuff. More time. Just more. And sometimes we’re willing to go to great lengths in an effort to attain what we really think will truly satisfy. The problem happens when our attempts to get more requires us to compromise our convictions, reject wise counsel, and allow pride and selfishness to sway our decisions.

There’s a story tucked away in Scripture about a king named Amaziah. It’s interesting that in his introduction the Bible states that he did what was right in the Lord’s sight [but not wholeheartedly].

The Bible goes on to say, ‘as soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp,’ Amaziah started making declarations with his newfound authority as any king would do. He began to establish his army and prepare for battle against the rival Edomites. Because he wasn’t convinced that only the soldiers in his army would be sufficient he ‘hired’ soldiers from Israel to fight alongside Judah.

However, the prophet said, ‘don’t take them with you. The Lord isn’t with them.’

Can you imagine being in this king’s position? He made a politically charged and costly decision to hire soldiers to fight with his army only to have some so-called man of God blatantly tell him this was a poor decision that would not be in his best interest. The king even questioned the financial loss he would experience if he released these hired soldiers to return to their homes.

Amaziah no doubt was concerned about the impending consequences of what this prophet had told him. His wealth was being threatened. His authority called into question. What should he do; find power in numbers by utilizing his wealth to buy a victory with additional soldiers or submit to this man’s declaration? Would God dismantle this king and his kingdom at the expense of Amaziah attempting to build a fortified army in his own power, strength, and insight?

Then the prophet said, ‘the Lord has so much more to give you than this.’

This statement is so incredibly profound. We work. We plan. We strategize. We calculate. We maneuver. We leverage. We feel confident in our decisions. We’re prepared to die on these little hills for the sake of some victory. All the while, the wise words of God are revealing that He has so much more for us than this.

Is it possible that the Lord needs to dismantle your plans to make room for the ‘so much more’ that He wants to give you? Is it possible that you are holding on to some things firmly in your grip that are ultimately robbing you of what God has in store? Is it possible that the control you believe you need to maintain is actually standing in the way of seeing God work in a miraculous way?

I believe with every season and circumstance in our lives there’s a constant ebb and flow of surrender and control. It’s visible in the lives of men and women in the Bible. It’s visible in the lives of people all around us even today. We’re constantly fighting battles in our own strength and power.

I wonder why it is that we find it so hard to believe this statement, “the Lord has so much more to give you than this?” Maybe it’s because of the setbacks we’ve experienced already in our lives. Maybe we’re taken back to some of those “where are you, God” moments. Maybe it’s because we’ve adopted this attitude of believing the results are left completely to our own devices.

I also wonder how significant it is that the Bible said that “Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord [but not wholeheartedly].” When you continue to read the story of Amaziah it did not end well for him. Half-hearted allegiance often leads to broken-hearted results. Unfortunately, that’s the consequence of the curse.

God is not interested in co-piloting our lives. God is not looking to be a genie in a bottle. Or a medical examiner diagnosing your condition merely so you can self-medicate your own issues. He’s not looking to only bail us out of the difficult places our imperfect thoughts, feelings, and decisions put us in. He’s asking for our whole heart. Full allegiance. Complete surrender.

Here’s what I know to be true for those who have given their lives to Jesus. There is “so much more” waiting for us in the future. The promise of His eternal presence one day. A place where pain, hurt, and loneliness subside. But sometimes we fail to see that He has so much more for us right now. That coming kingdom that many of us believe we will experience in heaven one day has a foretaste that we can experience here on this earth even today.

No matter where you are–on the hills, in the valleys, or somewhere in between, “the Lord has so much more to give you than this.” Whatever difficulty you’re facing, “the Lord has so much more to give you than this.” Whatever decisions you’re making, “the Lord has so much more to give you than this.” Whatever dreams you’re chasing, “the Lord has so much more to give you than this.” Whatever future you’re building, “the Lord has so much more to give you than this.” In all things, let your heart and mind go to this place, “the Lord has so much more to give you than this.”