Running out of air??

Do I worry about air?

Do I worry there is not enough to breathe?

Do I hoard air? Keep it in plastic bags and bottles? Just in case for emergency?

....

As I was driving to work this morning, this thought don on me. It sounds pretty silly to worry about air..or the lack of it.

How often do I worry about not enough money or enough food or enough daily necessities that God richly provides (Matthew 6:19-34)

How often do I wonder if there is enough to live off of like if there is enough air to keep me alive.

....

Reading the passage, the interesting thing about do not worry is not even about worrying at all. Jesus tells His Disciples in verse 33, to seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness.

Having more does not stop worrying.

For the things on earth will run out sooner or later. We will never have enough money to satisfy ourselves (how often do someone say, I have enough money). The things we buy will rust away. Thieves can come and take it.

Rather, the antidote is to Seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness.

As I go around living day to day, I don't stop and worry whether God provides enough air for us to live. How is that any different than my daily providence?

In fact, I don't even think about if air at all. It is natural. I don't stop and see whether there is enough air. When I live and I do what I do, I stop worrying whether there is enough air to breathe. When I seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, the worrying fades away.

And this is not about me. This is about having God working through me. As I participate in His Grace, the Glory goes back to Him. And this is no longer about myself. It is no longer self seeking.

The focus is not don't worry. The worry-ness is a side effect of focusing on earthly treasures. This makes me think about all the things that I am accustom and grew up believing ( money, education, job, security etc.)

Focus on Him. And the worry-ness will fade away.

Next time I think about earthly things, I should remind myself, am I hoarding air? :)

Blessings and Prosperity Gospel

I spent last night clearing up my room. As fall is coming, it is time to pack the summer clothes away and change the wardrobe.

I came to realization that there are a number of shirts I haven't worn for a year. I figured those are clothes I do not need and I collect a pile of clothes to be donated.

I know I am blessed when I have more clothes...so much more that I don't even have time to wear them.

I was looking at my room and figuring out what I can give away. A collection of doodads. A decoration in the room. They are very nice things. Too much, however, seem to clutter my room.

I wonder how much things that are non important or urgent is cluttering my life.

I like my room when it is clear and neat. And I must admit I am not a very organize person. However, when my room is clear, there is a sense of serenity.

When my private life is in order, I feel a sense of peace. Even when the outside world is in calamity.

I don't know where I got this idea. Probably from a blog or from a book. Or maybe from my own experience. I often wonder whether the things that I accumulated is truly a blessing.

When worldly things distract me from focusing on God? Is that truly a blessing? And I must admit, the laptop I got earlier this year, had me stayed up pretty late. In some occasion I was so tired getting to bed that I didn't do my devotion.

I was reading Albert Mohler's blog this morning. He written a post on, Are we Promised Prosperity? One part that struck me is:

that far more believers in Christ have been and are now among the poor, rather than among the wealthy. We should hear Jesus warn against materialism and Paul remind us that we are to be content when we have plenty and when we have little.

So perhaps the wealth is a double edge sword. I want more. I pray for it. It is not a blessing when I am distracted for it. And the irony is that I am asking God, whom I should serve, for more. It becomes an idle.

I wonder..when I pray for things...what am I really praying for? When I pray for a job, per say...am I praying to follow God's Will or asking God to give me the job with lots of $? When I pray for over situation (say a disagreeable coworker)? Am I praying to reconcile with him at the same time extending Grace? Or am I doing it so I can have a more comfortable (prosperous) life?

Last night, I cleaned up all my summer clothes. I also donated a portion of winter wear that I don't need. The good news is that I have a lot more room in my closet. Now I just have to unpack all the clutter in my heart and leave more room for Him.