Often times, people take a rigid stance of pride in not being materialistic – saying that people are all that matter. Yes, people do matter – but I challenge those who dismiss things and events. We must remember that God wants all His people to return to Him, and some of those people will only be reached by guys on the golf course, or Harley Davidson fanatics, or fashion divas. There is a mission and calling on every person, from the garbage collector to the socialite. One is not better than the next; they merely have different mission fields. Sometimes it is the commonality of things and events that draw people together, and then to God – making things and events important in the grand scheme of things. Do you know someone who worships their spouse, children, or some other person? Matthew 10:37-39 addresses this issue as well: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me...” Again, it is great to love and adore our friends and families, but they are not our breath of life. God is. He gives us people to enhance our lives, not to be dependent on them for our survival . That is His job. Consider the following scripture: “A wife of noble character who can find? ….She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard… She sees that her trading is profitable…. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet…she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among
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the elders of the land.. .. she can laugh at the days to come….charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:10-31. Most see this woman as honorable and hard working, but she and her husband are clearly rich and popular and yes, they hobnob! The point? They have balance. They work hard, give to others, and laugh at the days ahead. That means they don’t stress themselves out working to survive, surviving to work or being codependent with people. Today, consider the words of James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” Enjoy the things, but love and worship God.