March 12, 2022
Day 11 – Stuff
So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 5:31-34
What a true statement – Each day has enough trouble of its own. Most of our problems are of our own making.
The human heart is so frail and needy. Idolatry is an easy fix. Today, we aren’t too likely to go out and buy a statue of a god and put it on our mantle for our daily sacrifices, but we sure do search out a lot of extra stuff for our mantle. The desire for stuff can be as idolatrous as bowing down to a statue.
Now, there is nothing wrong with owning things – the problem comes when the things own us.
In the above text, Jesus says that the idolaters eagerly seek all these things – but why do they seek them? For security? For significance? For satisfaction? Aren’t these the same reasons so many of us get caught up in the game of seeking stuff?
The key to being free from the stuff is found in the text –
First, your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Second, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
And third, all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow.
This means we can relax – God knows what you need (and want) and He can and will provide for you. You don’t have to chase the dream – just chase the Dream Maker and trust Him to come through. You don’t have to worry because God is bigger than your needs and bigger than your wants.
This life of trusting God is about seeking Him and His righteousness. That is the focus of Lent. Take this time to seek Him. Seek a deeper relationship – that will come through spending more time in the word and more time in prayer. It will be realized in the steps you take to stretch your faith and rely on Him. And don’t just seek Him – seek His righteousness.
Isn’t it true, what we believe? He is a God of grace? Seek it. He is a God of power? Seek it. He is a God whose presence is real? Seek it. If you believe that God can and will move in your life – seek that. Don’t just believe it – live it!
This much is true – you can’t have your hands full of Him, if they are full of stuff.
What are you clinging to?
Give Up
Give up searching for, trusting in, and clinging to the stuff in your life. Hang on to your belongings with open hands – surrendered to God and willing to do whatever He calls you to do.
Check yourself by asking – “What am I not willing to give to Him?”
Take Up
Take up this challenge during Lent – look sacrificially at your stuff – what can you let go of. You might find it freeing just to give something away. Oh yeah, and make it good.
Look Up
Our prayer for today –
Lord, too often we seek stuff instead of you. possessions become our focus – turn our hearts from seeking and searching just to rest in you. You already know us and our needs. We can trust you with that. Open our eyes to the blessings you have for us and help not to seek our own.
Amen.
Dr. Chris Lohrstorfer