Stuff

My son has gotten into a very funny habit lately. Every morning as we leave for school he walks through the living room gathering up as many toys as he can to “take wit me mommy”. Each time he picks one up he looks at me and says with complete honesty “okay, this is it”. Only to look down and find yet another treasure that he simply cannot do without. The scene plays out just like the movie “ The Jerk” where Steve Martin’s character has lost everything and as he is leaving his new found fortune says “I don’t need anything but this chair," etc..gathering up every random possession he can on his way out of prosperity into ruin.As I watched my son I could hear God say “Oh my child how all of you are so like this.” My mind went to the parable of the soils where Jesus spoke of the "Other seed (that) fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants” (Matt 13:7) He later explained to his disciples in Matt 13:22 “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful." Ouch! How many times have I let my desire for this world and it’s stuff keep me from being “ the fertile soil” for God’s work in my life. Too many times I move through this world telling God and myself “ just this one more commitment, just this one more thing, just this one more accomplishment.” Only to be bound to a schedule and lifestyle that chokes the propose out of me.

God’s word says"let us throw off everything that hinders and sin that so easily entangles, and let us with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb 12:1)Stuff is not all bad, but when it binds and hinders it takes us from God and then IT IS SIN. My prayer toady is for God’s wisdom to infuse us to know what we are bound to and what is hindering us from His calling in our lives. Then for His power to show us how to throw it off in obedience and RUN!