Today,
as I perused Facebook, I saw a cartoon that depicted Jesus sitting on
a rock saying: “Don’t
lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth”, then
someone in the crowd says: “What about toilet paper”? Jesus
responds with:Let
me speak more s-l-o-w-l-y… I thought to myself – since when did a
common item like toilet paper become a “treasure”.
The answer came to me very quickly- When you don’t have it, Gary.
As I continued my browsing, I came along this picture and I thought
to myself: how ridiculous! But then, its not that
ridiculous, its very sad. In the mad scramble to gather
what we need before the stores run out of everything, we can very
easily cross a line from need to greed. I wonder, if we leave the
store with a cart like this, filled to the brim with EVERYTHING,
exactly what does that say about our faith?
Jesus
said:
Matthew
6 ( World English
Bible )
“Don’t
lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust
consume, and where thieves break through and steal; [20] but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and
steal; [21] for
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
And
“Which
of you by being anxious, can add one moment to
his lifespan? [28] Why
are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, [29] yet
I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like
one of these. [30] But
if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you,
you of little faith?
[31] “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
[31] “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
Now, let me speak more s-l-o-w-l-y.
Have
faith in God; do not worry!