There once lived a unique Persian by the name of Ali Hafed. He was a very successful Businessman from the 1800’s, who had acquired his wealth from thousands of acres of Orchard fields, grain fields, and gardens! One day Ali was visited by a Priest traveling from the East, and he began describing to Ali, an image that would forever alter his life. He proclaimed, somewhere out in the world was a field of Diamonds that if found, could make him more money than all the princes and kings. The words spoken by the priest struck into Ali’s heart, and changed him from the inside out. That morning Ali stood on his field a wealthy man, but that night he went to bed a pauper. He became engulfed with the idea, there’s a better field out there. Soon after, Ali sold all his land, took the money and began his quest for this prestigious field of Diamonds. Ali searched endlessly around the world, pursuing the insatiable desire to find those diamonds, only to come up empty handed with his funds totally exhausted. Broken and in despair, Ali saw there was no restitution of what he had lost, thus he took his own life. The pain of destitution was simply too great for Ali. Yet, the story doesn’t end there. The man who had purchased the land from Ali, was out by a brook one day allowing his camel to quench his thirst, when he stumbled upon an eye catching rock. After close examination, the man realized it was a diamond. The land that was once Ali’s, turned out to be a field of diamonds. Ali walked away from his land, because he lost the value of what he had, yet the painful reality was, there was diamonds beneath his feet for years, they just hadn’t surfaced yet. You see, diamonds are formed from beneath the earths crust and it takes immense heat and pressure for the diamonds to form and slowly make their way to the surface. Had Ali stayed content with His field, He would have realized the Diamonds were in his field.

One of the greatest dangers in this world we live in today, is losing the value of our field. We only walk away from things, when we no longer see value in it.

– A man will only walk away from his wife and children, if he’s lost the value of his family.

– A man will walk away from his salvation, only after he’s lost the value of Calvary.

– He’ll walk out of the Church doors, never to return, only when he’s lost the value of The Church.

Esau was willing to give up his birthright, because his immediate need was greater than the value of his heritage. His present state was more valuable than his future. There in lies the plague of humanity, immediate gratification. To ponder, Israel had Jehovah Jireh going before them, leading them, yet they never fully appreciated it, thus they sought for an earthly king. Demas had the life saving message of Acts 2:38, yet its value was diminished by the cares of this present world. The plague of discontentment has driven men such as Alexander The Great, and Napoleon Bonaparte to an early grave…

The foundation in which we are to always keep the proper perspective in what we have, is Thankfulness: Always being thankful for what the Lord has given us. In his book, Recapturing The Wonder, Ravi Zacharias wrote, one of the greatest ways to recapture the wonder in ones life, is to have a heart of gratitude. Humanity only loses the the wonder of life, when they feel their current state isn’t good enough. We’re able to look out the window into the field of others as never before, and a trap by Satan is, discontentment. He wishes to ensnare us with the idea, our life isn’t good enough. I’ve witnessed this firsthand in my life: Men who lost value in his wife and family, young people who lost value in the Church, people who lost the value in their friends….

True Thankfulness can only come from an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ! David understood this Truth: Hence, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” Meaning, David knew God would always supply his needs, and leave him lacking in nothing! The only time David got into trouble was when he took his eyes off the precious treasure of communing with the Lord! Thanking God each and every day will help us to always focus on our blessings! Paul went as far as saying, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Even when life deals us a bad hand, GIVE THANKS!!! You mean we’re supposed to be thankful for our storms and trials??? YES!!! James tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Paul understood a powerful principle that enabled him to withstand everything he faced on his journey in life: He told the Philippians, he had “learned to be content in what ever state of being he was in!” Paul learned where ever he was at in life, whether on Mars Hill proclaiming the Gospel, or in the prison dungeon chained to a Roman soldier, he was content!

May the Lord be YOUR Shepherd, for we shall not want…

Be Blessed, JDS

[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:11-13 (KJV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2 (KJV)

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations. Psalm 100:4,5 (KJV)