God's Wisdom In A Nutshell

Have you heard of the marshmallow experiment with children? It goes something like this:  a group of children are offered one marshmallow now, or two marshmallows later, perhaps in 15 minutes. The experiment is looking at delayed gratification.

As Christian adults, we too have the opportunity to partake in an experiment of sorts with our lives. Will we delay gratification and live based on God’s Word or will we pick and choose what we obey? The difference between the children in the marshmallow experiment and the Christian, is that we have the Holy Spirit within us to empower us to live by the Lord’s teachings and wait on certain pleasures of life.

This power source of internal control comes when we choose to hand our entire lives- every choice- over to the Lord. After we study the Bible, we will come to realize that the way we have been living is influenced by society’s norms and much of it is wrong.

We have an example in the Bible about what happens to those who refuse to listen to the Lord- The Adam and Eve story. Adam and Eve decided that they should choose for themselves what is right/ wrong and therefore got removed from a life of paradise to a life of heavy labor.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”(Psalm 127)

God has a set way that His Created beings should live. Why wouldn’t He have a perfect plan? But we need to seek Him for instruction and understanding or we will suffer consequences of our actions.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”(Gal 6:7).

As born again believers, we have help with all of our choices in life. We aren’t left on our own- the Lord knows that Satan is in the world making all sin look extremely normal and enticing. Therefore the Lord gave us a “helper” and we are able to overcome these strong enticements by calling on the Holy Spirit to help us.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak…”(John 16:13)

The Lord will always provide a way out of every temptation and potentially harmful situations if we call on the name of Jesus Christ.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”(1 Cor 10:13)

Perhaps we should learn something from the marshmallow experiment. Delayed gratification is good. In the area of life, it actually protects and saves us. If we had all of our wants and needs met immediately we would be bound and limited. We wouldn’t seek help from our invisible yet almighty Father in heaven who can lead us to a life more fulfilling than we could ever dream about.

Food For Thought,

Lisa