Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve been watching episodes of a show on the FYI network called “Tiny House Nation”. The “concept” offered in the show’s introduction is that all across the nation, people are rethinking their housing and downsizing from homes that average 2300 square feet to something that only has a few HUNDRED feet of space! Each show features the construction of one “tiny house” that is created for a family or an individual.
The builders assess the homeowner’s needs and wants and then produce a “tiny house” that hopefully addresses these in an esthetically pleasing manner – and somewhere around 400 square feet or less! One of the hosts also works with the homeowner(s) to downsize clothing and other possessions and whittle the number of these items to an amount that will fit inside the new abode. The theory is that the “tiny house” owners will focus more on other things in life - and less on material possessions – while they trim their expenses and save money in the process.
It’s a novel – and perhaps noble – concept. Let’s be honest. Try as we might to be less materialistic, I bet any one of us could open a closet or cabinet right now, and we would have to admit that we have plenty…if not a little more than we truly need. I get it…having extra underwear so you don’t have to do laundry as often is convenient. Extra cans of soup in the pantry come in handy when we have an ice storm and you can’t get to the store. That ricer you store in your cupboard and use twice a year is a nifty gadget when you need it! It’s fun to have “stuff”! I love my home – and everything in it!
I understand that people have to work to pay bills…sometimes more than one job and crazy hours and/or schedules. I realize that a lot of people work at jobs they don’t particularly enjoy just so said bills can be paid…while others love their jobs so much that they don’t want to stop working! But when we begin to focus on material wealth and possessions…when making money to buy more “stuff” is more important to us than spending time with family and friends - or God…this is a problem.
When it is more important to us to play with our “toys” or “do something fun” than to fellowship with others and worship God, things are out of whack. When we have time for movies, television programs, sporting events, video games, bridge club and Bunco, hunting, fishing, golfing and more…but we don’t have time to pick up our Bibles and study God’s word or to talk with Him about what He desires for us, there is an issue. When we have all manner of time to Google everything under the sun, but we can’t look up the number of someone who hasn’t shown up at church or in our other “circles” for awhile and ask “How are you doing?”…we’ve pretty well gotten our priorities out of balance. When we are more focused on “growing” our churches – in membership numbers and facilities – than we are in nurturing those who are on the rolls and filling every chair and pew in our present space, something is terribly wrong.
God wants us to enjoy our lives. And I am grateful for every single material thing He has allowed me to acquire. But I am more thankful that He taps me on the shoulder quite often and says, “Hey! Remember ME! Include ME in your list of treasures and work on what’s in your ‘heavenly closet’ for a change!”
I don’t want to live in a “tiny house” anytime soon…and I hope that is not what God has planned for me. But I am really trying to store up more in heaven…and less here on earth. Aren’t you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
1 Timothy 6:6-9
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of my former Sunday-school students posted on Facebook this morning that she and her husband are four major bills away from being totally debt-free. She just paid off another credit card balance, and all of her medical bills have been paid. This mother of 2 toddlers is using Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” course as her guide, but many have accomplished this successfully with other methods, as well. What makes this achievement so important is that this young couple – and others like them – are putting money in its place! They are managing money instead of money managing them!
I am only remotely familiar with Dave Ramsey’s course. I do know several people who have utilized it successfully to become totally debt-free very early in life…and I commend them for it. Countless folks suffer all kinds of stress on a daily basis because of bills and upcoming payments that loom over them. Let’s be honest, it is inevitable that such strain keeps us from giving our full focus and attention to our family, our studies or our job, and our walk with God.
This passage is about more than paying off your bills and living debt-free. The Apostle Paul is reminding us that everything we have comes from God. Our focus should not be on acquiring more “stuff”…we should be concentrating on using what we have to serve God. There are two points to consider: 1) it’s hard to stay focused on serving when we are mired in bills and debt; and 2) many of us are busy acquiring more “things”, when we cannot adequately manage what we already have.
What does all of this have to do with showing compassion for one another? Here’s the thing…knowing that we are all human – and vulnerable to the devil’s temptations – we can assume that most of us are enticed on some level by “the next new thing”. It may be the latest electronic gadget, a shiny new toy for our kids, the spring fashions now filling the store, another pair of sneakers, or a new house, car or piece of jewelry. We may desire to “keep up with the Joneses” and eat out…go to movies, concerts and sporting events…dress a certain way…participate in extra-curricular activities at school and church…and even go on mission trips with friends and fellow believers (which costs money).
As we interact with others, recognize that their inner struggles with money may be very similar to yours. Also realize that those who cannot afford to “keep up” with others may be struggling with their emotions and temptations. What can you do to “level the playing field”? How can you find ways to interact – and serve others – that are less costly in terms of actual dollars…yet effective in terms of time, energy, and sharing the love of Christ? By learning to be content with less…to live within our own means…can we actually demonstrate to others that it is truly acceptable and okay to be “wealthy” in ways other than actual money and possessions?
My challenge to you today is to get your own “house” in order. This may mean working to conquer your debts and pay your bills as quickly as possible. Or if you are “debt-free”, you may need to do a little “spring cleaning” and survey your “stuff”. Maybe you need to pare down…to “share the wealth” with those less fortunate…or to use what you have before you buy something else. Or maybe you simply need to shift your focus from “What can I acquire next” to “How can I better serve out of my blessings and abundance?”.
Spend some time in prayer and communication with God and see where He leads you. The Apostle Paul is telling us in these verses that there is great peace and satisfaction in being able to truly say, “I have everything I need”…and to live in the contentment of focusing on God instead of things. There is room for all of us to do some work in this area. Will this be the day that you get started?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Luke 22:27-30
“Who would you rather be: the one who eats the dinner or the one who serves the dinner? You’d rather eat and be served, right? But I’ve taken my place among you as the one who serves. And you’ve stuck with me through thick and thin. Now I confer on you the royal authority my Father conferred on me so you can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and be strengthened as you take up responsibilities among the congregations of God’s people.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A Facebook friend posted a link to an article about basketball legend Michael Jordan, written last year for ESPN’s Outside the Lines by Wright Thompson. “Michael Jordan Has Not Left the Building” is a sad, yet compelling commentary on the life of a 50-year-old athlete who has acquired much wealth and fame… but possibly lost his true identity and peace in the bargain. Thompson tells of the mega-millions Jordan has acquired as an athlete, and as a businessman off the court. He speaks of a failed marriage…a time when life was much simpler for Jordan…the death of MJ’s father… and his engagement to 34-year-old Yvette Prieto. And he documents what Michael Jordan himself admits is an incredibly huge ego.
Jordan talks about going to Florida to visit Yvette’s Cuban family. He notes how simple a meal at their house was… how her grandparents speak little English and do not know much about basketball… and how this visit reminded him of his youth in Wilmington, North Carolina. He told Thompson that “My ego is so big now that I expect certain things.”* And that’s the trouble with a lot of us. We’re not Michael Jordan, of course… but like him, we have attached so much imaginary importance to ourselves that we have totally lost our grip on what truly matters.
“When is it my turn?”…”What about me and what I want/need?”…”How could this happen to me?”…”Who will take care of me?”…all of these are questions many of us voice on a regular basis. Our concern is not with how we can help others, because we are too caught up in our own agendas and “What’s in it for me?” to consider being a true servant. And yet, the greatest “celebrity” of all… the One who truly had every right to be revered and respected… and placed on a pedestal like we tend to do for modern-day athletes and others – chose to live among us as one who serves. Jesus Christ modeled perfectly how we are supposed to conduct our lives. Any wealth and blessings we are allowed should be used to fuel and energize our efforts to serve others in His name.
In his article, Thompson tells of an employee who found letters that Michael Jordan wrote to his parents while he was a student at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. The employee was astonished at how “normal” Jordan seemed… how he talked of campus life, food in the cafeteria… and how he always needed money. One letter ended with a request for his parents to “please send stamps.” I have to tell you… the overall tone of this article was that of a man who “has it all”… yet has very little. The writer paints a picture of a life that seems empty…sad…and lacking in purpose. Jordan tells him that the simpler time of life in Wilmington is gone, and he cannot get it back… that now he expects certain things that he did not require before.
Does this describe you? Have you become so wrapped up in your own desires and “needs” that you fail to think of others? Have you become a dinner guest at the table who demands to be served and never offers to take a turn at extending assistance or attention to others? How are we using God’s gifts? Are we building our egos and amassing “wealth” and attention… and losing our heart and soul in the bargain? Or are we learning from Jesus’ example and truly taking up the responsibilities among God’s people… and serving in His name?
Have we, like Michael Jordan, become so caught up in our own story that we have failed to recognize the other guy’s narrative? Is life so complicated and out-of-control that we cannot even recognize that sometimes, all someone really needs is a word of encouragement… and maybe some stamps? Isn’t it time we regained our focus? Will this be the day that you set aside your own requests and yearnings to serve someone else? Will you be “the one who eats the dinner”… or the one who serves it?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/page/Michael-Jordan/michael-jordan-not-left-building
Matthew 6:25-34
I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?
Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is “tax-free” weekend in Arkansas. For two days, parents can shop for back-to-school clothes and supplies and the state sales tax will be waived on certain purchases. This includes clothing selling for up to $100 per item, and purses and accessories retailing for up to $50 per item. My question is… “Do school-aged children really need $50 purses and clothing items that are $100 each?” Maybe I am just out of touch with the times… but I don’t pay this much for my own clothing and accessories. My experience with children and teenagers has taught me that most will not take care of said items well enough to merit these prices! I am sure some of my nieces, nephews and young friends – and maybe even you – would disagree… and that’s your business. But I honestly believe we have become so “appearance/label conscious” in this society that we have lost touch with reality in many instances.
As someone who sews, I’ve taken a look at high-priced items of clothing and discovered that many are poorly made. Materials are thin and the dyes fade quickly…the stitching is often less than secure and subject to raveling… and the quality just doesn’t match the price. And at the end of the day… are you really happier or more comfortable in a nearly $100 pair of designer jeans than a $20 pair of Levis from Wal-Mart – or even a good clean $2 pair from the local thrift store? Does that tee-shirt from the high end apparel shop clothe you better than one from a familiar name-brand department store? Is a $10 gourmet hamburger truly tastier and more filling than a $3-$5 Whopper® meal from Burger King? Our pastor shared with us recently that $10 can feed a family of four for ONE WEEK in Costa Rica. How far can you stretch $10? My point is this…we all tend to be far too concerned with things that don’t last and won’t bring us peace and happiness.
Before my husband and I married, we planned to attend college at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where he was already a student. I would major in Elementary Education there… he would finish a degree in Accounting. Then he took a course in statistics and realized that sitting behind a desk crunching numbers did not interest him as much as being outdoors in nature. After much prayerful consideration, he decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University and pursue a degree in Park Administration.
We had all of the paper work complete for my enrollment at UALR. We were already looking for housing and making plans. In a few short months, we would be married, so changing locations – and universities – was daunting at this juncture. But my husband-to-be did not come to this decision lightly, and one day he opened the Gideon Bible he had been given his freshman year of college and showed me this passage from Matthew 6. He explained that a career in the “Parks and Rec” field might never be as lucrative as one in accounting… that park rangers and school teachers might only “make ends meet” on comparatively small salaries. But he assured me that he would be much happier as a park ranger than an accountant… and that as long as we were together, “things” really didn’t matter. With God's help, we would make it work.
In that instant, I realized that I had the most important gift… someone who loved me – and not my possessions or my “earned income potential”. I began a mantra that I have repeated to my husband for nearly 40 years now… “I’d live in a pup tent, as long as you are with me.” And we have never lacked for anything.
On a far grander scale, we have a similar – yet greater – Gift. We have Someone who loves us… not for what we have or how we look… not for how we dress or whether we dine on gourmet meals and live in mansions. We have a God who loves us and wants to be with us… because of who we are – not what we have. And He is willing to see that all of our needs are met, just so we can be together. God really doesn’t care whether you carry a $50 purse or stuff your money into your pocket. He is not the least bit interested in whether your jeans have a designer label or came from the thrift store. What God desires is your obedience… your trust… and your devotion. He will handle the rest. You may not have much… but you will always have enough. This should give each of us a tremendous sense of peace!
If you shop this weekend, I hope you will think about what really matters… spend your “tax-free” money wisely… and make every dollar count. Start learning to focus on your relationship with God… and with others. Make God’s work your top priority. Evangelist Joyce Meyer tells of standing in front of the mirror one Sunday morning… stewing about which outfit to wear and what accessories to add. She clearly heard God say, “Oh for goodness’ sake, Joyce… just put on something and GO!” It’s time for us to do the same. We’ve kept God waiting long enough! Won’t you set your worries aside and get busy doing His work? God may never ask you to “live in a pup tent,” but if He did… how would you respond?
©2013 Debbie Robus
March 22 ~ Proverbs 19:1
Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose someone offered you a million dollars, and all you had to do in return was deliver a package for them. You didn’t know what was in the package, and you didn’t ask. But you were pretty sure that what was happening was illegal… or at best, shady in some way. Would you do it? Now suppose your boss told you, “If you don’t lie for me about XYZ, you’re fired.” What would you do? After all, you have a family counting on your income… you have bills to pay…and all that you’re being asked to do is issue one simple, false statement or perform a single dishonest act. Maybe you’re being asked to say you saw a vehicular accident happen in a certain way – to place the blame on another driver. Or perhaps you are being asked to provide an alibi… “He was with me the whole time.” What could it hurt?
What if you could cheat on a test and score high enough for a scholarship… or you could shift one number and pocket some extra dollars that no one else would ever miss? If being honest about something meant you might actually suffer some sort of material loss… would you tell the truth? Let’s say you know there is something shifty going on with your friends or family members… or in the business in which you work… and reporting this could get a lot of people in trouble and/or cost you friendships and your job. How would you react? Suppose you were encouraged to pass off shoddy work… to cut corners in order to increase profits or speed up production. Could you keep quiet?
Let’s face it… life is not totally “black and white.” But too many of us are more concerned with “What’s in it for me?” than doing the right thing. Do you really want to work for a dishonest boss? Do you truly value friends who lie, cheat and steal? Are you doing family members a favor by keeping their secrets and allowing harm to come to them – and others? How would you feel if you were treated this way? Are you totally honest in all things? Are you willing to compromise your principles for personal gain? Are you more worried about how these things will affect you than in operating with integrity?
Being completely honest often requires a leap of faith and a heavy dose of courage. God will supply you with both. You may not always be the most popular person in some circles… or the wealthiest in terms of money and “stuff.” But you will be rich beyond measure in the things that truly matter… the blessings of God and His favor. Does this mean that all “rich” people are dishonest? Absolutely not! But in our culture, we have become so jaded by material wealth and “things,” that many of us often gauge our credibility and success in terms money and possessions instead of how well we love and serve others… and God.
Take a good hard look at your life and see where you have lost focus. Figure out what really matters to you and see where you have been willing to compromise your values in favor of a quick fix or something that seems to have value…but might actually be rather hollow. Fix your attention on God and the things that matter to Him. Make these the center of your life, and allow Him to determine your course. Let God show you how to do great things with less “stuff” and more integrity. Learn to value the things that He prizes. You may find that you are richer than you ever dreamed possible… in ways that truly matter.
©2013 Debbie Robus
1 Chronicles 29:10-14, 16-17
Then David blessed the LORD before the whole assembly:
Blessed are you, LORD, God of our ancestor Israel, forever and always. To you, LORD, belong greatness and power, honor, splendor, and majesty, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingship, and you are honored as head of all. You are the source of wealth and honor, and you rule over all. In your hand are strength and might, and it is in your power to magnify and strengthen all.
And now, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly? Since everything comes from you, we have given you that which comes from your own hand.
LORD, our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build you a temple for your holy name comes from your hand and belongs to you. Since I know, my God, that you examine the mind and take delight in honesty, I have freely given all these things with the highest of motives. And now I’ve been delighted to see your people here offering so willingly to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I recently watched an interesting documentary film called I Am by director Tom Shadyac. This man’s name might not be familiar to you, but I bet you know his work… Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, and Patch Adams, to name a few. Shadyac was living “the American Dream” – cars, mansions, a private jet, and more. Then he was involved in a serious biking accident and suffered a head injury that left him with a condition known as “Post-concussion Syndrome,” or “PC.” One of the common symptoms of PC is severe depression, and some sufferers even become suicidal. As Shadyac considered his own death, he says he gained clarity and purpose in his own life. And he began to make some major changes.
Tom Shadyac’s father, Richard, was a board member and CEO of St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, where children with life-threatening illnesses are treated free of charge. Through Richard Shadyac, Tom already had experience in “giving back.” But as a result of his injury and illness, he began to ask the question… ”What's wrong with our world, and what can we do about it?” In the film I Am, Shadyac consults philosophers, scientists, and spiritual leaders throughout the world. He concludes that a basic law of nature is to take only what you need. Clearly, we’ve lost sight of this in today’s world! By showing the connection all life forms have via DNA, argon gas, and much more, Shadyac illustrates how intricately God formed all of His creatures – and how important it is for us to operate from the heart rather than the head!
If you watch I Am expecting Shadyac to attribute all of his discoveries directly to God, you will be disappointed. But the film is still worth a look. It makes you think about how much “stuff” we have – and how important much of it has become to us. Hopefully you will be reminded that everything we have comes from God… and you will question what you are giving Him in return.
We can’t outgive God. We cannot “compete” in any way, shape, or form. And we are not supposed to… God doesn’t want us to serve or give to Him out of any sense of obligation. But He does want us to take all of the gifts, blessings, talents and abilities that He has so graciously showered on us and give back out of the abundance of our heart, with no hidden motives or expectations. In other words, if God has blessed you with intelligence and the means to attend college, you can “repay” Him by studying hard, doing your best, and making the most of whatever degree you earn… then serving others in your work.
If God has blessed you with a good job and the opportunity to make plenty of money, honor Him by helping others… giving to charities, ministering to the needy, and using your “wealth” to support programs and organizations that aide those less fortunate. If God has given you a talent, use it for His glory. Don’t “hide your light under a barrel” or use what He gave you merely to gain recognition and accolades for yourself.
Tom Shadyac sold his mansions, cars, and jet and moved into a much smaller home. He rides a bicycle to work. God gave him the ability to create movies that make us laugh… and now to make us think. As you look around at your life, ask yourself where you have used God’s gifts for your own purposes. What have you given back to Him? How have you taken the talents and abilities God gave you and used them to do things that bring glory and honor to Him? Where does your life need a tune-up… and a downsizing? What are you giving back to God… and how pleased is He with your offerings?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Luke 12:29-32
"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Recently I found myself involved in a discussion about a few well-known televangelists. It all started innocently when a group of people were discussing various ministries, and an acquaintance asked me about my own background. He said, “You seem to recognize many of these names. What exactly is your own story?” I explained the various denominations to which I have belonged over my lifetime and some of the Bible teachers I have found particularly helpful as I grew in my faith. I also expressed disappointment in some who seem more interested in teaching that God rewards our faith with material blessings. In other words, they teach that if you come and plant a $100 bill on the sanctuary altar, God will give you a gift worth many times that in return.
I got quite an earful from one person in the group who seemed to appreciate this philosophy and appeared very upset that I “didn’t get it!” My friends and I let him talk… somewhat because he refused to let anyone else talk! The acquaintance and I later evaluated the conversation and agreed that “works” alone won’t cut it with God. In other words, we can’t earn God’s favor, and we can’t buy His blessings.
The man asked me, “Don’t you want God to bless you?” Of course! He continued, “Do you think you might be blocking His blessings?” Sometimes… but not for the reasons he expressed. As I told my friend, I believe that we were created by God to bless others in His name… not to get fancy cars, mega-mansions, expensive jewelry and more. Some may indeed become wealthy along the way… but wealth is not the goal. However, I am afraid that it has become just that for some people and certain ministries.
We must be careful to guard our motives. God is very clear on this. Everything you have can be stripped from you in a heartbeat. God wants your needs to be met in every arena. But He does not want you to focus on what you can get or accumulate. He wants you to focus on HIM… who and how you can serve in His name… and never to miss out on even a single thing He is trying to give you.
The biggest blessings you will ever get from God will not be cars, jewels, houses, and furs… but rather the satisfaction of knowing you served others well in His name. The biggest blessings will be when someone says, “You helped me today,” or “Your words were just what I needed,” or “I was on my way down - your help couldn’t have come at a better time.” When you learn to operate in blessings and service to others, God opens the floodgates of blessings upon you.”
So chill out… work hard, but don’t make getting “stuff” your priority. Enjoy knowing that God is meeting your needs every single day… and using you to help meet the needs of others in the bargain. Make room for Him to work in and through you… and feel the blessings flow!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Luke 12:15
Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Few among us have not heard of the new reality TV shows that feature “hoarders” – people who have some sort of mental or psychological disconnect that causes them to be unable to part with anything… even garbage. Others continually acquire material possessions… or even pets. And recently, a new show has featured people who use discount coupons to save hundreds of dollars on groceries and other items… but many of them become “hoarders” of sorts, accumulating storage rooms filled with items they don’t even want or use, all because they were “free."
I will be the first to admit that I have too much “stuff”. I have far more clothes than I can wear. I tend to stockpile a few staples and paper goods in the pantry. Everyone knows I love antiques and old things… and my laundry room and closets attest to this. I have mundane collections… from books to nativity sets… and like most people, a fair share of “junk” I just can’t seem to part with.
But I have honestly come to a point in my life where I feel my “stuff” does not define me. I could get rid of most of it tomorrow and be just fine. Maybe I’ve cleaned out one too many drawer at my grandmother’s or gone to enough estate auctions to see that it’s just stuff, and you can’t take it all with you! I stood at an estate auction recently and looked at items being sold for pennies on the dollar and thought, “Yesterday, those things were important and valuable to the person who owned them. Today, they are being auctioned off to the highest bidder.”
Greed is caused by a number of things… deep-seated psychological needs, a mental disconnect, something that happened in one’s past, a strong desire for control, and more. But at the very core, I believe that greed is borne out of a spiritual lack. We are trying to fill up an emptiness within us that only God can fill… but many of us don’t know that He is what we really need. Once we learn to focus on God and the things He desires for us… to spend our time serving Him and living in His presence, our wealth and belongings are not nearly as important… or at least they shouldn’t be!
I stood recently at the cemetery and looked at a large brass box that contained my cousin’s ashes. I thought about my own life and how someday I, too, will be reduced to a box like that. What will be my legacy? Will my “stuff” matter then? Will people talk at my funeral about what a nice car I drove or the house in which I lived? Will they say, “She had nice stuff!” Or will they talk about how I lived… who I loved… how I served my LORD? I pray that I would never be defined by what I have. I pray that we would all learn to value relationships and the things of God more than material wealth.
What about you? What is valuable to you? Are you greedy… a hoarder… defined by your “stuff?” Or are you focused on what really matters? Ask God to help you de-clutter your life and focus on serving Him. Call on Him to give you the wisdom and courage to “clean out the closets” of your life and lay down the baggage. Learn to really live… free and unencumbered. Fill up on God – not things… and see how blessed your life can truly be.
©2011 Debbie Robus
1 Peter 1:3-5
Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.
You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever moved… or even taken a trip… you know that you have to make decisions about what to take and what to leave at home. Some moves/trips are easier than others. Sometimes we are actually moving into a bigger space, where storage is not an issue… and sometimes we are downsizing, perhaps drastically. We are moving my grandmother into an assisted living facility, so this is one of those “monumental” moves. On the surface, it would seem easy – you take your best things – just what will fit into the space – and leave the rest to be dispersed among family members and/or sold or donated.
But when you get down to it, we are all attached to our things, and 98-year-old grandmothers are no exception. My grandmother has an “edge” on some, because she and my grandfather lost virtually everything in a house fire 30 years ago. However, in the last 30 years, a lot of “stuff” has been accumulated… and there is sentimental attachment for much of it. So jewelry that belonged to my grandmother’s sisters is important. The little wind chime that hung in my great-aunt’s window has meaning for my grandmother (her older sister). She remembers the kindness of those who gave her things – and the “back-story” behind many of these items.
My grandmother is going on a journey of sorts. She is moving into what will most likely be her final earthly home. What do you take? What do you leave behind? If we study 1 Peter and other scriptures throughout the Bible, we see that there will come a day when, quite literally, we can’t take it with us! The things we store up on this earth and place such value on will not matter when we depart this earth and make the move to Heaven. But the treasures we store for Eternity will be waiting on us… and then some.
I love my home and my “things” as much as the next guy. But I’m starting to question some of my choices a little more closely. Do I need to buy this gadget or that knick-knack… or do I need to contribute more to world hunger relief? Do I really need to spend this hour shopping online, or should I spend it visiting a shut-in or calling a friend I haven’t spoken with in a long time? Should I tip the car hop an extra dollar for delivering my burger or save that money for something I want at a later date? Is it better to concentrate on myself for awhile and do some things for myself (because let’s face it, it’s all about us!) or look around and see who needs my help, prayers, encouragement, and more?
When my great-aunt passed away, the pastor reminded us that her 89-year life was a long, rich one. But by the same token, 89 years was a blip on the screen compared to Eternity. The “stuff” we store up here on earth pales in comparison to what God is storing for us in Heaven. In fact, much of what we think is so fantastic now, we would pile on the junk heap in Heaven. So we have some big choices to make.
As we sort our lives and decide what to keep and what to pitch, we need to take a long hard look at every single area. We need to ask ourselves, “Does this really matter? Would we want to take this to Heaven?” It’s a daunting task – and a challenging question. But the last verse of our passage for today says it all… God will save us. He will protect us to the last day. And He will meet ALL of our needs, and then some… now - and most surely in Heaven. For me, this is worth any “tough choices” I have to make now. Wouldn’t you agree?
©2011 Debbie Robus
June 30 ~ Luke 15:31-32
His father replied, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is the ending verses of one of Jesus’ parables, known to us as the story of “The Prodigal Son.” If you start reading in Luke 15 at Verse 11, you will see that a man had two sons, and he divided his wealth between them. One worked hard and honored his father, while the other ran off and partied and spent everything he had inherited on food, wine, and women. When he was penniless and working as a slave for others, he realized that his father’s pigs ate better than he did, so he decided to return to his father on his hands and knees and ask for a job – feeding the livestock or serving in some other way.
The father was so glad to have his son back that he welcomed him and planned a party to celebrate his return. This made the hard-working son mad and jealous… as it would a lot of us. But here’s the deal… think about how hard it was for that “prodigal son” to come home. He must have been scared to death of his father and what he might say and do. And aren’t we the same way? Aren’t we afraid, sometimes, to go to someone with whom we have disagreed or wronged in some way and say to them, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I’m asking you to forgive me.”
More than this, aren’t we often afraid to go to our Heavenly Father and admit that we have sinned against Him? Aren’t we embarrassed by our behavior and lack of respect and honor for God? Does this fear and embarrassment keep us from humbling ourselves before God and asking for His forgiveness? It shouldn’t. Take a good hard look at this passage… and at the father’s answer to the angry, jealous brother. In essence, he said, “You should be glad your brother is back. I have enough love and wealth for both of you. You’ll never lack for anything just because I took your brother back. You still have my love… but your brother needs it, too.”
I’m willing to bet that most of the people you are afraid to approach and apologize to…or mend a relationship with…would be glad to hear from you – if you came with a humble, sincere attitude. And I know that God would be glad to have you back. It’s time to stop being so afraid. It’s time to trust God to protect us and guide our steps… and to take a leap of faith and repair a relationship, mend a fence, apologize to someone we have wronged… and admit our sins and shortcomings to our Heavenly Father. We have operated in fear long enough… and given Satan far too much pleasure and satisfaction in the bargain. Be glad for those who have taken this step – those who were once lost and are now found. And if you need to be next in line… now is the time to start.
©2010 Debbie Robus
April 8 ~ 1 Timothy 6:6-8
And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave. So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I recently watched an episode of The History Channel’s “American Pickers,” about two men from Iowa who trek across the country in search of “one man’s junk” that can be recycled and restored and turned into another man’s “treasure.” On the episode I viewed, the men visited a gentleman who has an incredible collection that includes a turn-of-the-century wood rim bicycle and a high-wheeler from the 1880’s. At every turn, the two men asked the owner, “How much for this?” The man’s standard reply was, “Oh… a couple thousand.” In other words, he didn’t want to sell! He even remarked, “I am going to have to buy a really big casket to take all this with me!”
The truth is, we won’t take any of our “stuff” with us when we die, and a lot of it isn’t adding much to our lives in the present! I know, I know… I have closets full of things I don’t need, too. But sadly, for a lot of us, we fill our lives with things we don’t even want out of some deep-seated idea that we can gain satisfaction with “stuff!” The truth is that what we really need is more of JESUS!
Many people are trying to fill a void with things, people, trips and activities, drugs, alcohol and more… and there is never enough. If you just had one more car, video game or pair of shoes… that would be enough. If you could just go to Europe or take a cruise one more time, your life would be complete. Have you ever seen the Kohler bath commercial where the Italian grandma is dying, and she is saying that her life is complete… she accomplished and experienced everything she could possibly want – until the door opens to show a beautiful woman running her hands through the water that fills a bath tub in a spa-like setting. The grandma utters a curse word and dies, regretting that this was the one thing she missed.
What are you missing? If we truly search our hearts, I think most of us would find we are missing more of Jesus. We are missing a deeper sense of trust, a stronger faith, a more intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. I recently commented to my mom that if I spent adequate time praying over the people and concerns on my prayer list these days, I would be in prayer all day… and then we both laughed. We both realized the absurdity of what I had just said, because this obviously is not the priority in my life it should be. See, I’ve let “things” get in the way of spending time with God, and I suspect you may have, too. I could give up a couple of mindless television shows per day to pray. I could walk an extra loop on my exercise route and talk to God a little longer. Instead of surfing the Internet shopping for my next purchase, I could be covering someone in prayer who has deep needs… or finding out what God wants me to do with the next few hours/minutes/days of my life.
We need to realize what is really important. It’s okay to have nice things… to live full lives and go places and do things. But it is not okay to give these first place in our lives. Priorities matter… GOD matters. We can’t take it with us when we die… and we wouldn’t want to anyway. Where are your priorities? What are your treasures?
Leland's Cafe. (2010). The History Channel website. Retrieved 3:33, April 6, 2010, from http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers/episodes/american-pickers-episodes#slide-2.
©2010 Debbie Robus
