Do I Love My Things?
We live in a country where we enjoy so many blessings that most people in human history did not enjoy. We have plenty to eat, nice clothes to wear, comfortable homes, and air conditioned cars that take us wherever we want to go. Besides all these wonderful comforts, we have thousands of trinkets, toys, and play things. Maybe you have a tablet or iPad on which you can play games or watch movies. As you look around your room, you see many things that are yours—things that are pleasurable and that you enjoy.
But here’s the danger: it’s easy to allow these things to make you crave more. Even though you probably have more things than most children in the past ever had, you run the risk of not being thankful and content. So “be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5). It is tempting for us to want more. “If I could just have that game;” “If I could just have that doll;” “If I could just get that action figure, I would be happy.” And the list of wants and desires goes on and on. We have a short period of excitement when we get what we want, but before too long, our excitement fades and we begin desiring something else.
A very harmful sin that the Bible describes is covetousness or greed. It is easy for us to fall into that trap—which will only lead to unhappiness, heartache, and sorrow (1 Timothy 6:10). That’s why Jesus warned us: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). You may think that right now at your age, apart from school or church, your life involves mostly playing with and using the things you have. If so, please stop and think! All the things you have are temporary—and that’s not what your life on Earth is about! Do not allow yourself to be attached to these things. Instead, spend time putting your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2) and thinking about God and spiritual things. We can’t go to heaven if we love things more than we love God and other people (1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5). So let’s heed Jesus’ advice: “lay up for yourself treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20)!
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