Go Without

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Philippians 4:5

Nothing worse then snatching a scripture out of context just to back up your blog post. This is a shameful use of God’s word and I pray it does somehow speak to you in a way that it spoke to me when I was looking for a bible basis for my “Go Without” mantra these last couple of weeks.

It all started as I watched my teenage son working hard to develop his glutenous ways. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand it is a teenagers nature to EAT EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME, WITH NO RESTRAINT!!! I also understand it is in ALL of our natures to OVERDUE EVERYTHING. We, by in large, are a glutenous society of overconsumption and addiction. So, when The Lord began to open my eyes, through someones statement that “you never go without anything”, coupled with the thought that not many people I know “go without anything” and then looking at my son eating everything in his path and wanting more. I decided to start a ‘Go Without’ campaign in my household. And in myself.

When asked to bring soda pop home from the grocery store I am responding “Go Without”. When questioned as to why I am banning TV and Video games until 5pm, I respond “Go Without”. When asked about why, all of a sudden I’m not stocking the freezer with ice cream, I respond “Go Without”. When I shop and find a shirt I like or a pair of shoes that are the cutest things ever to be designed, I tell myself “Go Without”.

I’m not doing this to prove a point that I can go without things, I’m doing this because I want to creat a culture in my home and in my heart of moderation…unto reasonableness. Good things that aren’t sinful may become so if they are controlling, consuming or compelling in our lives. I desire balance. I want to squelch the beast that gives unreasonable amounts of time, thoughts or effort to one thing.

Go Without is working in my heart, it is driving my choices and decisions. Its not just about going without things, its about having a heart of moderation and determining if my thoughts, use of time, choices and efforts are pleasing to God. Are they glorifying God? Can I GO WITHOUT? Can my children GO WITHOUT? Is it better if we just GO WITHOUT?

I wanted a new bible. Actually, I want my old bible rebound, which means I send it off to be repaired, which translated into ‘I need to buy a new bible’. I have 7 bibles that are currently not being used on a regular basis in my house. MANY OF THEM ARE MINE! I spent over 1 hour searching bibles online last night looking for my new bible for this next season. I usually get a new one every 2-3 years to keep it fresh and alive and unchartered ground when I read. After wasting the hour and knowing full well I have 7 bibles to choose from in my house, I said to myself GO WITHOUT.

No bible was purchased, no bible will be purchased, I am Going Without. You see it is not just about ice cream and pop and video games, its about taming the flesh and not allowing it to rule my checkbook or my choices. Its about being willing to yield, even when it comes to buying a bible.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:17

GO WITHOUT!