“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phillipians 4:19)
There are certain characteristics found among birds and animals which also feature in humans. One of these is hoarding. The magpie is notorious as a hoarder. It will pick up anything, particularly shiny stuff, and take its loot down to her nest. Next time you lose your door or car keys and can’t figure out where, ask yourself if a magpie bird flew nearby!
It’s not very clear why magpies or some other creatures hoard, but for humans we can relate. One chief driver is insecurity. A hoarder does not necessarily need all he gathers to build up a mountain but he is motivated by the fear of “what if I need something ..so better keep”! Hence, one keeps on adding on stuff after another, essentially not what he needs but just for fear, until the mountain is immovable.
Like the Egyptian Pharaohs who went to their graves with dozens of suitcases of jewelry, only for looters to feast; there are those who can’t move anywhere without a mile long luggage! They have become so possessed to their collections to imagine a simple life without!
The habit of hoarding when not watched can turn into a dangerous obsession and, for a believer in Christ, reveal a certain lack of faith. For Jesus taught, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”’( Mathew 6:26). Job further says, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart” (Job 1:21).
When we horde we become self centered, pre occupied with ourself; yet when we rise above this habit, we look more to God as the supplier and protector of all our needs!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you take care of all my needs may I ever be dependent on you and not be attached or lost in amassing things, for my protection is with you, and this I pray in Jesus’s name!
Related upcoming events
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21/05/2024 - 22/05/2024 All day“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare” (Proverbs 24-26)
Anyone who has taken a long walk through dark forested woods knows the fear and trepidation of suddenly coming face to face with some dreadful creature stirring from nowhere. Hence, one walks gingerly, with his sixth senses fully alert.
In life, there are also those situations where we too can find ourselves fearful of the worst, a terror suddenly unleashed upon us by some nemesis, just as we had lowered our guard. Yes, some evil was waiting for the right time to knock us down.
In our verse today we see here some of the blessings of placing our confidence in the Lord. People tend to lose sleep when there is something there are most anxious of, especially when there are uncertain of the outcome. Also, there are certain job situations where in a rat chase one has no idea of the next move of his competition, and is ever fearful of a wicked surprise. When we walk with the Lord, we are at peace because it is not much of the circumstances around us that determine our fate. But it is His protection.
Our lives are much like how pilots enjoy a panoramic view of all that is below. For the traveler who has not that vantage view there can be that anxiety especially once caught in the thick of the jungle. But then by looking up to God who knows and sees everything hovering over us, why worry! This is why Paul writes, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that your peace may abound upon me in whatever situation I face as I know you are in supreme control.
