What am I talking about?
Most every day I get a few emails in my inbox from Publishers Clearing House. Now, I don't play the lotto. Mainly I don't because I don't want to waste my money and also I think if I won I'd have to admit to playing the lottery. I'm not condemning lottery tickets or lottery play -- just not for me. But I do hit "Submit Entry" over at PCH when I'm checking my email.
I don't know why I do it. Well, I do. We have it in our minds that money will solve a lot of our problems. On the surface that can be true. It'd be nice to pay off the debt, but debt is no big deal to God. He can help you pay it off anyway He desires.
I read this morning in Luke where Jesus says, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
And I sure don't want to get caught up in stuff. I think if that team of PCH people came to our door with a huge check and balloons and a television crew I'd probably cry and be overwhelmed and then I'd just give most of it away because I like our life the way it is. Though there are two things I'd like to buy:
I'd like to sponsor a well in Africa (though I could start that now -- maybe I will. It just takes someone to say yes and let God work. Hmmmm.....I gotta think on this).
And I'd like to buy my husband an F-250 Four Door pick-up that runs great (and has really nice tires, a nice radio, heat and air and a trailer hitch).
I was fretting about that earlier this summer and I know God said to me, "Jane, there's some things more important than money."
And in that He reassured me He'd provide for her college year and reminded me of the good things that are happening in my daughter's life. She and her daddy (my husband too) are getting some great time together. They are riding together and her horse is getting trained. This is a dream come true for her. And she's getting along with her siblings and enjoying her silly mom. She has a lovely guy friend who loves Jesus. And sometimes she is reading her Bible.
All of that is better than a big savings account (and if she reads this post she'll probably make me take it down -- but she rarely reads my blog so I'm safe).
There's so much in American culture that we've been led to believe are necessities to doing life right. Like, our home needs to be clean and stylish and roomy to invite people over to spend time with them. Because I know that I know that I know the things in life that are important are relationships -- relationship with God and relationship with others. Jesus says the two most important commands are Loving God with our whole selves and loving others the way we want to be loved. Needing a roomy home is not found in those commands. Last Monday we had some people over (it was really impromtu so don't feel slighted if you weren't part of the gathering -- my impulsiveness took hold and the ball started rolling down the hill and it couldn't be stopped). We ate outside. Then we had cake and ice cream and played Uno inside. We all squeezed around our table and laughed and enjoyed each other. We used styrofoam plates, mismatched glasses (many were jars of various sizes), forks or spoons or whatever we could find to eat with and there was clutter on several surfaces. Only two chairs match. And the piano bench had to be brought in for extra seating. It was lovely.
Another gathering I was part of last month was in a dear friend's kitchen. Some of us were at the table. Some of us were in folding chairs outside the table. And some sat on the ground. It was a small area for that many people but we didn't care. It too was lovely. My friend's house isn't stylish but it's comfortable and inviting and filled with joy.
I will continue to click on "Submit Enry" I am sure, but it is done in the spirit of "you never know." God and People are what's important. Anything that takes away from these two main priorities might need to be looked at and examined to see if some of it needs to be let go of.