NUM. 11:4-9 “GETTING USED TO OUR BLESSINGS”
A) When you were a child, did you ever sit down at the dinner table and say, “We having that
again?” * Human nature hasn’t changed!
* Centuries ago, the Jewish nation was being fed by God from heaven!
* Every morning for nearly 40 years, God sent little wafers of manna down to the camp of Israel.
* The Bible calls it angels’ food – Psa. 78:25!
* But there came a day when the people complained, “We’re tired of this manna, same old thing
every day!” * Their experience points out an important truth .......
* And that is, the danger of getting used to our blessings!
(1) GOD WAS TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL!
* He had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt ... Taken them through the Red Sea, and had
defeated their enemies for them!
A) They never had to worry about where to travel because God’s presence went before them!
* God protected them from danger and God provided them food and water day by day!
* Now you would think that the people would be thrilled with what God was doing for them, right?
* But they weren’t ... They spent much of their time complaining!
B) They complained about their godly leader, Moses!
* They complained about the way God led them ... They complained about the way God fed them!
* There was a time when Moses was a great man in their eyes, but not any more!
* There was a time when the pillar of fire that led them was an awesome sight, but not any more!
* There was a time when they could hardly wait for the morning to come so they could go out and
gather the heavenly manna, but not any more!
C) Do you know what happened to these people?
* The same thing that can happen to you and me! * They had gotten used to their blessings!
* The wonder was gone ... What was once a daily miracle of God’s love became a routine
occurrence! * “We’re tired of this manna!”
* Can you imagine being tired of food that came directly from heaven?
* Can you imagine getting used to sharing in a daily miracle? * Well, it happened to them, and it’s
happening to people today ... We’ve gotten used to God’s blessings!
(2) I THINK OF OUR BLESSINGS AS A NATION!
* Not everything is good about our country, but not everything is bad either!
* We enjoy freedom here, yet we’ve gotten used to it and take it for granted!
A) Our material wealth is the greatest of any nation on earth .......
* Yet, we complain because we don’t have more!
* While we Americans are fretting over diets and trying to lose excess weight, many people in the
world are trying to find enough food to keep them alive another day! (Rock Falls Church)
* Take this matter of government ... With all its faults and failures, our republican way of life is
still the best way!
* Yet, how many of us really participate in our responsibilities of government?
B) Many Christians don’t even bother to register to vote!
* If God withdrew from us the national blessings that we enjoy, I’m sure everyone of us would cry
out and beg God for freedom again!
* It’s too bad that sometimes we have to lose something to appreciate it!
* Don’t get used to the blessings we enjoy as a free nation!
* Cherish these God given privileges and use them wisely!
C) Whenever we start taking something or someone for granted, we start complaining!
* For some reason, many of us actually enjoy complaining!
* Yet, the Bible warns us in Phil. 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”
* I think of all the complaining that goes on in the home!
* We take for granted the blessings of the home! * Clean clothes ... Nourishing meals ...
* Money to pay the bills ... Opportunity to be together and enjoy family fellowship ...
D) Then something happens and we lose some of those blessings!
* Perhaps mother has to go in the hospital and we discover what is involved in keeping a home
running smoothly!
* Or perhaps the head of the house is out of work, or has taken a cut in salary, and we find out
quickly that money doesn’t grow on trees (like our children think it does)!
E) Sometimes we take our spiritual blessings for granted!
* Do you remember when your pastor first started your church, how grateful you were that God
had sent him to do the work? * You listened to his sermons carefully and took them to heart!
* But he’s been with you several years now and he really isn’t special anymore!
* In fact, lately you’ve decided that he’s a bit hard to listen to!
* His sermons are a bit too long and maybe he’s too hard on the church!
* If that’s your attitude, I want to warn you, you may be getting used to your blessings!
* 1 Thess. 5:12-13 “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and
are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their
work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
(3) OR LET’S TAKE THE MATTER OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL CHRISTIAN LIFE!
* Just think of what prayer really is ... Fellowshipping with the God of the universe and sharing our
needs with Him! * Why, this privilege ought to excite us!
* It ought to stir us up so much that praying would be the most enjoyable and thrilling experience
of the day! * But with many, prayer is just a dull routine!
A) We have gotten use to our blessings and the results in our lives are tragic!
* What happens to us when we get use to our blessings?
* I’ve already mentioned one sad result ... We become critical and complain!
* But something else happens ... We lose that sense of wonder that makes life enjoyable!
* Life becomes very mechanical ... Very matter of fact! * Instead of having a child-like spirit of
humility and wonder, we become cold and hard like a machine!
B) When you sit down at your table to eat, do you ever feel a sense of wonder that God should
take care of you? * Just think of all that lies behind even a little piece of bread!
* Think of the thousands of gallons of rain that had to fall on that field!
* The thousands of hours of sunshine that God had to send!
* Think of the harvesting, the milling, the baking, the shipping, the distributing of the loaves!
* And all of this just so you can have your morning toast!
C) Please don’t get use to your blessings!
* Keep that sense of wonder that God is supplying your needs day by day!
* Live each day as though it might be the last opportunity you will have to enjoy your family, or be
with your friends or share in a church service or read your Bible!
* And when you find yourself taking things for granted, don’t wait for God to deal with you .......
* Immediately ask the Lord to give you a new appreciation for old blessings!
* Go a little deeper into life ... Open your heart wider to the love of God!
* Keep that sense of wonder in your life!
CLOSE
A) Sometimes God has to deal drastically with us to teach us to appreciate necessities and
stop desiring luxuries!
* God had to deal with Israel by discipline when they complained and He will surely discipline us!
* It doesn’t take much ... An illness, car accident, a disappointing change in plans!
* Sometimes God has to use deep surgery to get rid of the spiritual cancer of complaining!
* The loss of a job, or even the loss of a loved one!
B) But these things are not needed in the life of the person who is always thankful .......
* Who appreciates God’s blessings and accepts them with gratitude, or who is amazed day by day
that God is so good to them!
* Keep your heart open in gratitude to God and life will take on a new luster of joy and wonder
and peace!
