Last Sunday’s sermon was entitled, “What’ in your wallet?” The goal of my sermon was to encourage listeners to further develop a “heavenly view” of some common earthly things like money & time. Sometimes we allow ourselves to get too caught up in the “rat race” of making a living, paying our bills, making sure there is food to eat and fashionable clothes to wear, and a car that somehow enhances our self esteem. I came across the following story that I thought rather humorous; or but also a bit provocative.
Cleaning out my wallet this morning made me wonder what its contents say about me. After receipts and other junk were tossed, here's what I've been carrying around:
- My driver's license (Florida, organ donor).
- A MasterCard credit card, VISA debit card and health care plan debit card.
- Two proofs of auto insurance and five health care plan IDs.
- Retailer cards from BlockBuster, PetCo, Barnes & Noble, Borders, GameStop, Quiznos, Dave & Busters, Ollie Koalas, and Borderlands Games & Gifts.
- A $25 gift card good at Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones restaurants that I haven't redeemed in four years.
- A library card.
- A Microsoft Bob calling card that expired in March 1996.
- $15 in cash
I can provide documentation for 10 retailer relationships and no personal relationships. I feel so bad about this I'm going shopping to cheer myself up.
Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.”
I believe Jesus wants us to enjoy a better life on this earth, than one consumed with worrying about “things.” How empty life is if this is all we have to show for our time on earth! How did Jesus suggest we handle our affairs so that our life becomes more than just “worry about things that don’t matter?” In Luke 12, he suggests several things. #1– Seek first the Kingdom of God (v. 31). Somehow if we learn to seek higher things, and trust our loving God for His purpose and working– the lesser things will be provided– without our worrying about them.
This doesn’t mean we no longer have to go to work, or do a good job at work. It just means, our work and our daily lives have a higher focus and goal than just money. We are doing God’s will, and working to bring about His kingdom.
Jesus also suggested we learn to avoid “worry” over things by giving things away” (v. 33) When we can give things away, they no longer possess us. When we can trust God to provide enough to let go of things. Then things don’t “own us” and their power to keep us bound & worried is broken. Well, it’s not always easy to “give away.” Especially when you’ve worked hard for something– or when we listen to the media and the culture which says “we have to have things– or we’re nobody.”
But, we need to listen to God and His word. He already proclaims- “You’re Somebody Special!” We don’t need some lesser source to tell us how we rank. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.” (v. 32). Well, “what’s in your wallet?” Whatever is in there, may you learn to live by a “higher view of things.” For God wants your life to be much more than worry about earthly things.
