Stacks of magazines we keep for years thinking that after the first reading we will go back someday and re-read them. We justify that kind of hoarding as “reference material” and it makes us feel better than if we called it trash. Before this pandemic, many of us gravitated to weekend garage sales (yep, I’m raising my hand too) and purchased another person’s junk they no longer wanted. Some of it was especially useful but, occasionally we bought items just because they looked like something we might be able to use. Then we threw them into a box in the garage, forgot about them, and they ended up in our own garage sale the following year. Oh, my!
The summer organization bug is in full swing especially now. We start thinking of what we can do to clear out all the rubbish. If we never, ever discard anything--fearing we will need it someday--we could become a candidate for one of those TV hoarding shows. It’s like trying to dig our way out of a jungle that is about to devour us.
Finding Our True Happiness
Those
are all lifeless objects that we think we need, so we keep them. It appears our
hoarding gives us a sense of security, which of course, is false. But the same
thing goes on in our brains, emotions, and spirits. We get bogged down worrying
about every little thing, most of which we can do nothing about.
Money, or the lack of it causes much stress as most of us know. But don’t get caught believing money provides happiness. It does not! How many famously rich millionaires do we know that are truly happy? It might appear that way at first, but an excess of money generally brings an excess of responsibility, which equals excess stress. Think of all those lottery stories of winners one year after their big win. Many of them are worse off than if they had never gambled because they cannot keep up with all their new possessions. Believe it or not, many people fall into bankruptcy when the money is all gone!
Of course, money is not the only worry in life. We can get overwhelmed by relationships that have gone wrong, working at a job we hate, trying to survive after divorce, dealing with child custody, health issues, finding supportive friends, car repairs, anxiety, dieting, disappointment, and doubt. And on, and on, and on.
This is exactly why God commands us [Matthew 6:25-28] not to worry! This is not a suggestion. He is serious about this subject. Why? Because worries are endless; they consume us. Only God knows our anguish when worry devours us. He never wants us in that state of unhappiness and mental chaos. And better yet, He has the answers to our dilemmas. God is just waiting for us to come to Him with our concerns.
Life-Long Learning
If
we find ourselves completely worry-free (really?), the opposite problem may become
our enemy. Pleasure. Too much of the wrong kind can
steer us into a state of denial. We find ourselves hanging with an unsuitable
crowd. Doing what we never thought we would. Ignoring our standards and
principles. Filling every minute of the day and night pursuing bodily
enjoyment, earthly treasures, and worshiping ourselves.
Please don’t get the incorrect idea here. God wants us to be happy and content. He is all about us finding our joy--joy and love in friendships and close relationships. Discovering His plan and purpose for our lives can be the absolute best kind of pleasure; a fulfillment of everything we hope for. Living in God’s world, where He is ready and able to handle our worries and concerns, will provide us a way to grow stronger and stronger every day. Now, that’s a thing of beauty!
“This is what the story means: The seed is God’s message. The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God’s teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit” (Luke 8:11, 14 NCV).
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