Despising your blessing
One
foggy night in London, many years ago, a ragged unkempt man shuffled
into a little music shop, owned by a Mr. Betts. Clutched under the man's
arm was a violin. "Will you buy this old violin from me?" the man
muttered.
I'm starving. I need money to buy something to eat." "Well, I already have several violins," Mr. Betts replied. "But I don't want to see you go hungry. Will $5.00 help you out?" "Oh, yes," said the man. "Thank you. Thank you."
He took the money and disappeared into the night. Mr. Betts picked up the violin, took the bow and drew it across the strings. The violin gave forth a deep mellow tone. Surprised, Mr. Betts took a light and peered into the inside of the violin.
He could hardly believe what he saw. There, carved into the wood were these words: "Antonio Stradivari...1704." Mr. Betts ran out into the street to find the old man, to pay him more for the violin. But he had gone. I read this story and I was reminded of someone in the bible who faced somewhat of the same situation.
Esau did not see the value of his birthright at the time when he was hungry, but later on as you read the story, he was ready to kill his brother when he realized he had been conned of his blessing.
Many of us despise the very thing that the Lord has placed in our hands because we are busy observing what other people around us have.
Like the beggar in the story, you have something in your hand but you have no idea how much it is worth and so you continue living a miserable life. Or maybe someone else has realized the value of what you have in your hand and because you see no value in it, you are being exploited and you have no idea what is happening.
I have also realized that the thing that God puts in your hand requires a particular environment to reap the most benefit from it. To the beggar in the streets the violin was not worth much and it could have passed off to any passerby as an old piece of junk, but in the right environment it was worth so much more!
Reminds me of a lady who did not have a lot in terms of academic qualifications but the one thing she could do well was to braid hair. Now in her neighborhood all she got for doing that was a few coins and many times she did it as a favor to her friends and family.
Eventually she got an opportunity to visit a friend in the states and she discovered that not many people could plait hair the way that she could. She began plaiting hair and she was paid huge amounts of money she could not believe it! She ended up settling there and setting up a beauty shop.
What do you have? Are you despising it like Esau? Do you even know what you have?
If you do, find the right environment where your gifting is appreciated and see the blessing of the Lord overtake you and run you over.
I'm starving. I need money to buy something to eat." "Well, I already have several violins," Mr. Betts replied. "But I don't want to see you go hungry. Will $5.00 help you out?" "Oh, yes," said the man. "Thank you. Thank you."
He took the money and disappeared into the night. Mr. Betts picked up the violin, took the bow and drew it across the strings. The violin gave forth a deep mellow tone. Surprised, Mr. Betts took a light and peered into the inside of the violin.
He could hardly believe what he saw. There, carved into the wood were these words: "Antonio Stradivari...1704." Mr. Betts ran out into the street to find the old man, to pay him more for the violin. But he had gone. I read this story and I was reminded of someone in the bible who faced somewhat of the same situation.
Esau did not see the value of his birthright at the time when he was hungry, but later on as you read the story, he was ready to kill his brother when he realized he had been conned of his blessing.
Many of us despise the very thing that the Lord has placed in our hands because we are busy observing what other people around us have.
Like the beggar in the story, you have something in your hand but you have no idea how much it is worth and so you continue living a miserable life. Or maybe someone else has realized the value of what you have in your hand and because you see no value in it, you are being exploited and you have no idea what is happening.
I have also realized that the thing that God puts in your hand requires a particular environment to reap the most benefit from it. To the beggar in the streets the violin was not worth much and it could have passed off to any passerby as an old piece of junk, but in the right environment it was worth so much more!
Reminds me of a lady who did not have a lot in terms of academic qualifications but the one thing she could do well was to braid hair. Now in her neighborhood all she got for doing that was a few coins and many times she did it as a favor to her friends and family.
Eventually she got an opportunity to visit a friend in the states and she discovered that not many people could plait hair the way that she could. She began plaiting hair and she was paid huge amounts of money she could not believe it! She ended up settling there and setting up a beauty shop.
What do you have? Are you despising it like Esau? Do you even know what you have?
If you do, find the right environment where your gifting is appreciated and see the blessing of the Lord overtake you and run you over.
Genesis 25:29-34 (NIV)
(29) Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. (30) He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom. ) (31) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." (32) "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" (33) But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. (34) Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
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