Today’s Reading: James 5:1-6
As I confessed yesterday, the feeling of being in control of my circumstances makes me feel comfortable. I genuinely desire for God to be in control of my life, but I also want the result of that control to look just like I expected it to – my perfect plan surrounded by all my favorite people in my favorite place with my favorite things. But just like I should not hang onto my own PLANS, there is danger in holding onto my own possessions.
SURRENDERING MY POSSESSIONS TO GOD
Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. – James 5:1-3
How often do we hang on to our worldly possessions when there are those around us who are in need? Think back to chapter 2, when we discussed faith without deeds in reference to the physical needs of our brothers and sisters. What good is our faith if we do nothing about the needs of those around us? We are often guilty of doing unnecessary spending when the basic needs of others are not being met, yet we claim to understand what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
This is the ultimate danger – greed. As Americans, we hope to be prosperous, we crave more stuff, and we love buying something new. Our closets and cabinets and garages stack up with items we never use but we continue to buy more and more stuff until there’s not enough room to store it all – so we move to a bigger house. And how often does our desire for more than we can afford lead us into a situation of going into debt instead of waiting until the money is there?
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:19-21
Two years ago, we found out that the Lord was moving us again. That season of obedience was a good reminder that when you tell God you will go anywhere He wants you to go, you cannot be surprised when He gives you the next assignment. So once more we found ourselves cleaning out our closets and making decisions about what would go with us to Kansas. It became clear that we had collected a lot of items over the years that were unnecessary and rarely used. It was time to pass them on for someone else to enjoy. Three months ago, we moved into a 2-bedroom apartment. God is teaching us how to stay light on our feet and obedient to His call.
Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. — James 5:4-5
Lord, reveal to me any ways in which I am withholding something from someone – something that rightfully belongs to them. Give me a heart of generosity and the desire to be a blessing to others. Please reveal to me the ways in which I am holding on to earthly possessions instead of clinging to you, God. Redefine luxury to mean when you are satisfying every God-given desire in my life.
Give me the wisdom not to plant roots anywhere but in your hand, Jesus. I long to count on nothing but you — to live in sweet submission to your lead, in complete surrender to your plan, and in full satisfaction of your blessings.