Can't help but continue to ponder Sunday's text about Jesus' declaration that He is the Bread of Life and His question to the crowd about why they work for the food that perishes.  We are such a restless people.  Many books have been written and many jokes told about the power and foolishness of  "having stuff."  Like buying stuff and then having to get a bigger place to keep our stuff and worrying that someone is going to take our stuff so getting security to guard our stuff and working harder to take care of the extra stuff we own and it goes on and on and on.  And I'm convinced those with lots of stuff are really no more happy or content than those with just their basic needs met.

 

    Don't get me wrong; I don't think there's anything inherently wrong in "stuff."  It's just "stuff."  But it's how the "stuff" seems to get and keep control of our lives that is almost devious.  There's something diabolical in the way people work themselves to death to accumulate and keep up with their stuff.  It's not only the stuff that perishes!!!

 

    Thank God we have God to remind us of what's important!  We have opportunity to "put on the brakes" and reevaluate our lives.  We can slow down and live simply and put to good use the extra blessings we have been given instead of accumulating more stuff that causes headaches and sleepless nights.  We can live simply, and help others to simply live.  What an incredible gift!  What is good for us is also good for others.

 

    Wow!  Isn't it smart how God has it all figured out and how He was willing to share with us the secret to a full and satisfying life?  Now we pray for the wisdom to heed His counsel that we might not kill ourselves, never have peace and happiness, and what is worse, never be the blessing we were intended to be.

 

    Something to ponder...Pastor Carol