Glory in the Morning

Does anyone else feel this way? Yesterday, I was in Walmart and school supplies were front and center. I was so excited! I wanted to make a beeline for them, but I knew I shouldn’t. It took everything I had not to veer in that direction! New notebooks! Gotta have one,lol! I have always loved to write and loved office supplies, so this time of year has always been like Christmas to me. Don’t I need new index cards and sticky notes and definitely a few new notebooks? May as well add to the cart a few colored pens and pretty notepads too! Oh, and a new planner!

My husband was probably shocked that I didn’t even look at them, lol! He would also be shocked to know how hard that was for me. I didn’t voice it to him because I felt so silly. I have several new notebooks waiting to be used and my desk has everything I need in it. The allure of things I did not need was so powerful though!

I started to think…what other things are alluring to me that I do not need? Why am I so drawn to some things that I have to fight the attraction? What does the Bible say about this?

The following is just my brain and how I processed this, how I “talked myself off the ledge.”

1 It is okay to be attracted to things, as long as we can separate that from what we really need. Though I may want new notebooks, I do not NEED them. Being practical usually helps me get over a buying challenge. The opposite of need is perhaps GREED?

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15 NIV

2. More important than buying what I DON”T need is to realize some people cannot buy what they DO need. They may not be able to buy school supplies and have to depend on the kindness of agencies and others for their needs. That thought keeps me in my place…and makes me want to buy notebooks and give them away. That would be fun! The Bible says we are responsible for others’ burdens…

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NIV

3. Things that I find alluring are not necessarily bad, in moderation. Like ice cream, for example. I rarely have it.Though it is very alluring to me, it adds pounds that I do not need! The problem with allure of unnecessary things…the allure has a tendency to grow.

GREED grows!

I have never known myself or anyone else to only want ONE of things they love. I have never met someone who, if they had the money, didn’t want LOTS of clothes or cars or shoes. We all like buying things. But, you know what? The more we buy, the more we want. Greed grows.

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

This is definitely an area I used to struggle with. Now, since I know what God expects, I do my best to keep possessions and greed at bay. What helps? God’s Word, God’s Word, God’s Word. I am nothing at all without it and He is everything!

He does not want us to get caught up in abundance of things. One thing we can be okay in getting an abundance of? Getting more of God’s Word, collecting and possessing His truths:)

Love to all. Have a great day in the Lord!

Christina