Now Or Later

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
Have you ever noticed, that there is a fundamental principle that even the world has figured out?  Especially money people.  It’s called the principle of delayed gratification.  Giving up the lesser now, for the greater later.  That’s why you don’t see Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos walking around with $10,000 gold chains around their neck.  Those guys can end up broke, the other guys end up buying islands, corporations, countries, and economies.  Bobby Bowden passed recently, and in a tribute they shared some things He said.  One of the winningest college football coaches of all time.  And he didn’t lead by abuse and fear, but by inspiration and belief.  He said an interesting thing in an interview.  (That’s why interviews are so informative.  People talking about themselves can’t help but reveal what they really believe, and who they really are).   Coach Bowden said this.  “Reputation is what people think you are.  Character is who God knows you are.”  He was after the building of character, more than the building of champions.  It seems he may have achieved both.  The principle of delayed gratification, giving up the lesser now, for greater later, is without exception a pre-requisite for every Champion, Gold Medalist, or Championship Team.  In simple money terms, some people want to look rich now, rather than be rich later.  And it is possible.  It’s called debt.  Debt is the exact opposite of the principle of delayed gratification.  Rather than giving up now to gain later, it is giving up the later, to gain now.  It enables what seems to be accelerated gratification rather than delayed gratification, only to find out it’s forfeited gratification.   Some people want to live like they are fifty, when they are twenty.  Not realizing the fifty year old lives like that now, because they chose not to when they were twenty.  Even the world has figured that out.  But when it comes to the spiritual world, the Kingdom of God itself is based on delayed gratification.  Paul said I count all things (down here) as loss – that I may gain Christ.  He was more consumed with how He will live up there forever, than down here right now, which is so temporary, and extremely fickle.  The reason the devil wants to keep you from learning delayed gratification, is if he can bind your money, your income, and cash flow, he can keep you from God’s best.  Debt steals the seed.  If you owe, you can’t give, God cannot direct resources that He has given you – that you have obligated to another, every month.  And if the devil can steal your seed, he can steal your harvest.  Give and it shall be given to you - is delayed gratification.  It’s Kingdom focus.  Delayed gratification applies to Time, Thoughts, Money, Relationships.  If you give God your time decisions, He will invest your life seed to bring a harvest.  If you learn to think like He thinks, instead of how the world thinks, He can direct your thoughts and words and heart so he can change your desires – to give you His best.  If you let Him make your money decisions (you have to know where it is first, so you can ask Him what He wants you to do with it) you might not look successful at first, but He will direct your seed in the best soil.  You will be free to give, so He can bring a harvest... good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.  Delayed gratification, don’t look for your own spouse, or get into physical and emotional obligations with your body, let God consume your heart until He can bring you together with the one He has chosen for you.  The entire kingdom of God is predicated on that principle of delayed gratification.  Give up what seems good now, to get the best He has later.  No one who has done it has ever regretted it.  2 Timothy 4:7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  Praying that you will not live for the now, but the then.  If you do, your now will be so fruitful, and your then will be beyond your imagination.  Your now will not be wasted, boring, or lacking.  He knows how to give good things, even in the waiting, and the planting, and the sacrificing season.  No sacrifice is too great for what He has in store for you.  Praying that you will wait when He says wait.  That you will delight yourself in him, rather than the things of the world.  And you’ll get a little stronger, you’ll get a little wiser, you’ll get a little further, and you’ll get a whole lot better. 
 
Love you all,
dad