When Israel begs for a king, wanting to be like the other nations around them, the Lord warns them that they’ll get a terribly greedy taker, who will demand more and more of the meager resources their families need to live on. Suffering from an incurable, toxic case of the gimmies and grabby-itis, a blowhard king, out only for number one, will prove insatiable.

1 Samuel 8: 11,13-17–‘These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you…He will take your daughters…He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards…He will take your male and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.’ Take…take…take–of your best and brightest. What’s personally dearest will become their monarch’s fodder.

Not only ancient Israel’s leaders but many of us love to grab, grasp, and hoard. The more stuff, the merrier. A growling, bottomless pit of things, hogwash, and junk. Cars and trucks worth multiple thousands of hard, cold cash are parked in the driveway and out in the street so that boxes of worthless rubbish can crowd out the garage. Know what I mean? Stepping on some toes, am I?

In contrast to contemptible takers, our Lord God lives and loves as The Giver par excellence. The more the merrier–of forgiveness, mercy, salvation, kindness, and love. Those fruits of the Holy Spirit can be found in Galatians chapter 5.

God gives and gives. His best gift is Jesus. John 3: 16–‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son….’

This week why not spend some time thanking the Lord for all He’s given you. Past, present, and future. Less asking for more things, and more praising Him for who He is and all He graciously provides.

Praise and thanks– good medicine for what ails you. Take a heaping spoonful.

Father, I thank you and praise you for your Son Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.