Wednesday’s thought — deceitfulness of riches

“Part of the way riches deceive us is that we end up caught caring for the very things that we thought would care for us. We find ourselves with drawers and closets full of clothing, cupboards and refrigerators full of food, and garages full of unused sports gear and yard tools. And we feel the weight of it. We do not feel the weight of good gifts, for good gifts point back to the Giver; no, we feel the weight of trying to replace the Giver with His gifts. We feel the weight of the pride that convinced us to rely on earthly goods to relieve a spiritual need in the first place. And we find ourselves in a constant cycle of maintaining these earthly goods, of packing and moving them and sending them to Goodwill so we can have space to buy more. We find ourselves caught work, work, working to afford them, our hands ‘full of toil and striving after the wind.'” Hannah Anderson, Humble Roots

On Sunday our Pastor talked about the parable of the sower from Matthew 13. In this story that Jesus told, a sower is putting seeds on different types of soil and Jesus is discussing how well that seed bears fruit. The part of this that has really stuck out to me is the seed that was sown among the thorns. “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word (God’s truth), but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22. We know this, we know that riches do not bring joy or happiness or true comfort. But yet, it still tempts us somehow. We are still allured by the promise of the bigger house, or the nicer car, or the new wardrobe. We think it will somehow bring us joy, fix our problems, give us rest. But it does just the opposite. The pursuit of these things is striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14) and they cannot bring peace and rest. Only Christ can do that. If we will pursue him with our time and energy instead of these things of the world, then we will find true rest. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 When I stop spending time striving after the deceitfulness of riches, I have time for the things that matter– for Christ, for my family, for serving and loving others. I have time for moments like this picture, to push my kids on a swing and enjoy a cool fall morning. When I stop letting the thorns choke out the truth, I have time for rest and my heart is at peace.