Matthew 6:21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
American culture offers an excessive and easily attainable amount of distractions. While it is true that the more monetarily sound you are, the more you can afford to indulge in luxury homes, cars, vacation, and electronic gadgets, even those of modest means still have access to sports, movies, music, and a wide variety of entertainment options through the television and internet. With evidence of wealth and abundance permeating the media, though, it is easier than ever to lead those with lower or middle class incomes down the treacherous path of covetousness. Politicians know this and all too often manipulate those jealous of the "haves" into voting for them on promises to make the rich pay "their fair share" so those less fortunate can somehow benefit. This ploy is only possible because, for so many people, earthly treasures trump heavenly ones.
I am reminded here of one of Aesop's fables: The Dog With the Bone. Seemingly content with his treasure, the dog is trotting along until he reaches the edge of a stream. Peering in and imagining he is seeing another dog with an even better bone than he has, he opens his mouth to wrench the bone away, only to have his own bone land "splash" in the stream and float away while he, in turn, is left with nothing. What a cruel master is greed! Wanting something bigger and better in this world, unabashedly taking away from someone so that we might have more, is a lose-lose situation, one where we cease to count the blessings, rich and vast, that we already have.
Take time today to reflect on all the distractions surrounding you that remove your focus from God. Ask Him to help you place them all aside, giving thanks for both what you have and what you don't. Place your treasures in the storehouse of Heaven, and your heart will follow for eternity.
Readings
Psalms 87, 90 or 136
2 Kings 11:1-20a
1 Corinthians 7:10-24
Matthew 6:19-24
I think about all the things that distract me and take my focus from God often as well and you know what I always feel is number one distraction for me? Facebook. It is fun to be in touch and have all that communication at my fingertips but there are times I really feel at what cost though? It is so important to be aware of these things Martha! Thanks for a great post!
ReplyDeleteHi, Colleen!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about Facebook! Since starting my devotions, I've tried to use it only for blogplicity reads and quickly catching up with friends on my feed. The communication, I agree, is great, but if you get sucked into the games, etc., it's a major time waster! But, here I go, about to put my daily devotion on Facebook! :)
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Blessings!
A beautiful writing! I have had to be on guard alot here lately about distractions. My focus starts out well, but somewhere in time, I loose my focus and then have to get back on track again. Facebook is an excellent tool, but it can be distracting. Spiritual balance for everyday living is what I need and rely on the most to overcome distractions. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother 'coincidence.' Matthew 6 will be on display in Part II of 'America IS A Christian Nation.' These scriptures, and others of course, inspired the American Founders' faith and reliance on the divine Providence. Funny, these coincidences. Excellent post! May today provide a full course of God's blessings to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lily and Hank, for stopping by and leaving such wonderful comments! @Lily - spiritual balance, yes, something for all of us to strive for! @Hank - coincidences are great! When they are like the one you shared, I like to call them "God-incidences"!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you both!
How important is this massage for our materialistic culture where value systems seem to be the opposite of God’s values. I love the Aesop fable; perfect example to illustrated how one lets go of the Real Treasure and reaches out for an illusory one.
ReplyDeleteHi, Martha! --
ReplyDeleteGood points to ponder.
As far as the commentary I must say I think FB gets a bad rap. However, I must admit, I can't imagine playing a FB game and I don't get that. But, it's a great way to stay in touch and build global community ;-)
Thanks!
L2