Let’s Stop Living on Leftovers
Seeking God’s Best, Not Second Best
…Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”… – Mark 10:51a
Introduction
Good morning, church family! It’s the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and while I might be tempted to preach the most predictable post-Thanksgiving sermon, Let’s Stop Living on Leftovers, let me make it clear—I’m not here to talk about turkey sandwiches or reheated stuffing.
Instead, I want to explore a deeper question: Are we living on spiritual leftovers? Are we settling for less than God’s best in our walk with Him?
Too often, we accept “good enough” when God wants to give us great. We pray for “okay” when He longs to give us the extraordinary. We live on spiritual crumbs when He offers the feast of His best blessings.
Does that describe you? It’s describes me at times. But God is calling us to more.
- Recognize the Problem of Living on Leftovers
Let’s consider the Israelites in the wilderness. When God provided manna from Heaven, it was His daily provision—a miraculous sign of His love and faithfulness. Yet some didn’t trust Him enough to give them fresh manna every day. They hoarded leftovers, only to find them wormy and rotten by morning (Exodus 16:20).
The lesson? God’s best is fresh. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23). But when we hoard or settle, we miss the fullness of what He wants to give us.
Spiritually, we do the same. We hoard things. We hold on to past experiences or second-hand faith instead of pursuing His best today.
The Stale Birthday Cake
Imagine it’s your birthday, and your family surprises you with a beautiful, freshly baked cake. It’s moist, flavorful, and absolutely perfect. But instead of enjoying it that day, you decide to save it. You cut one slice, leave it on the counter, and cover the rest with plastic wrap.
The next day, it’s not quite as good, but you eat a small piece. A few days later, it’s starting to get hard and stale. By the end of the week, it’s dry, crumbly, and barely edible.
Now, let me ask you—why would you settle for a stale cake when you could’ve enjoyed it fresh, at its best?
Spiritually, many of us do the same. We rely on yesterday’s blessings or experiences to sustain us. We hold on to “what God did back then” instead of seeking Him for a fresh outpouring today. Just like the manna in the wilderness, God’s blessings are meant to be experienced daily.
Application:
Take time this week to seek God afresh each day. Before you begin your morning routine, pause and pray:
- “Lord, I’m thankful for what You’ve done in the past, but I want to experience You anew today. Give me a fresh word, fresh strength, and fresh joy to face what’s ahead.”
God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23). Don’t settle for spiritual leftovers when He’s offering you something fresh and life-giving right now!
- God’s Invitation to His Best
Our God doesn’t settle, and He doesn’t want us to either. In Mark 10:51, Jesus asked a blind man, “What do you want Me to do for you?” It was an invitation to dream big, to ask for the extraordinary.
The man could have asked for money or help navigating life as a blind man. Instead, he asked for something bold: to see. And Jesus responded to his faith by healing him completely. King James says “whole” you see, Jesus didn’t just give him his sight, Jesus made him “whole”. When you ask big through your faith you receive big.
What about us? Are we willing to ask boldly for God’s best—not for material things, but for spiritual blessings like courage, strength, faith, wisdom, joy, and love?
Application Prayer:
- “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your new mercies today—fill me with Your courage, faith, and wisdom, and help me to trust You for Your best as I walk in Your will.”
- Why We Settle for Less
Why do we so often accept spiritual leftovers?
- Doubt: We doubt God’s willingness to bless us abundantly.
- Fear: We fear asking too much, believing we’ll be disappointed.
- Complacency: We’ve grown comfortable with “good enough” and stopped pursuing the extraordinary.
But Scripture reminds us, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). A pastor friend of mine once said, “Most people worry they ask too much of God. When in reality, most people don’t ask enough.”
Application Prayer:
- Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve doubted Your goodness, feared asking too much, or grown complacent in my faith. Help me to trust in Your abundant love, to ask boldly for all You desire to give, and to pursue the extraordinary life You’ve called me to live.
- How to Pursue God’s Best
If we want to stop living on leftovers, here are four practical steps:
- Stop Doubting Him: Trust that God’s heart is for you. He longs to bless you abundantly, not just for your sake but for His glory.
- “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6
- Ask for a Great Vision: Don’t settle for small dreams. Pray for a vision that challenges your faith and blesses others.
- “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” – Jeremiah 33:3
- Work on Your Vision Daily: Partner with the Holy Spirit. Seek His guidance, power, and wisdom to walk in obedience and faithfulness.
- “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3
- Give More Daily: Reflect God’s generosity. Pour out His blessings in your life to those around you.
- “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” – Luke 6:38
Application Prayer
- Heavenly Father, help me to trust You fully and never doubt Your goodness. Give me a bold vision for my life that honors You, and the perseverance to work toward it daily by the power of Your Spirit. Teach me to give generously, reflecting Your love, and to live in alignment with Your will today.
- The Question That Changes Everything
Jesus’ question in Mark 10:51 is not just for the blind man—it’s for us today: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
How will you answer? Will you settle for leftovers? Or will you dare to ask big? Will you ask for His best, not just for yourself but for others?
When we ask for more—more faith, more love, more courage—God cheers. And when we listen for His answer, we’ll find He’s ready to respond abundantly.
The Blank Check
Imagine walking into a bank and being handed a blank check signed by a billionaire. The banker smiles and says, "Write any amount you want—this is yours to spend on whatever you need."
What would you do? Would you timidly write down a small number, afraid to ask for too much? Or would you boldly fill in an amount that matches the full potential of the gift?
When Jesus asked the blind man in Mark 10:51, “What do you want Me to do for you?”, He was essentially giving him a spiritual blank check. The man didn’t hesitate. He didn’t ask for something small or temporary—he asked for the impossible: to see. And Jesus, moved by his faith, gave him exactly what he requested and more.
Encouragement:
Jesus is asking you the same question today: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Don’t hold back. Don’t settle for crumbs when the Creator of the universe invites you to ask for His very best. Whether it’s spiritual growth, healing, restored relationships, or bold faith, Jesus is ready to answer in ways beyond what you can imagine. All He asks is that you believe and ask.
Takeaway:
This week, approach Jesus with boldness. Write down your "big" requests, not just for yourself but for others. Trust that the One who owns it all delights in blessing you with His best!
Application Prayer:
- Lord Jesus, thank You for asking, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Help me to answer with faith and boldness, trusting in Your power and goodness. Give me the courage to ask for Your best, not just for myself but for others, and to believe that You are able to do far more than I can imagine.
Conclusion
Church, it’s time to stop living on leftovers. Let’s make a decision today to seek God’s best—not the stale, second-hand remnants of spiritual life, but the fresh, daily outpouring of His blessings.
As we look ahead, especially to the new year, make your “more” list. Be bold in your prayers. Be persistent in seeking Him. And most importantly, be ready to receive.
Let’s me leave you with this prayer:
“Lord, I’m thankful for what You’ve done in the past, but I want to experience You anew today. Give me a fresh word, fresh strength, and fresh joy to face what’s ahead. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your new mercies today—fill me with Your courage, faith, and wisdom, and help me to trust You for Your best as I walk in Your will. Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve doubted Your goodness, feared asking too much, or grown complacent in my faith. Help me to trust in Your abundant love, to ask boldly for all You desire to give, and to pursue the extraordinary life You’ve called me to live. Heavenly Father, help me to trust You fully and never doubt Your goodness. Give me a bold vision for my life that honors You, and the perseverance to work toward it daily by the power of Your Spirit. Teach me to give generously, reflecting Your love, and to live in alignment with Your will today. Lord Jesus, thank You for asking, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Help me to answer with faith and boldness, trusting in Your power and goodness. Give me the courage to ask for Your best, not just for myself but for others, and to believe that You are able to do far more than I can imagine. In Your mighty name I pray, amen!
Call to Action: This week, take time to reflect on what “God’s best” looks like for you. Write down your “more” list and commit to praying boldly for those spiritual blessings. Then watch as God works through your faith to bring His best into your life and the lives of others.
