Focus

Turn off your cell phone, TV, or radio. Listen to the silence that is around you. Listen for God to speak to you.

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Read

Genesis 13:1-7 (NRSV)

So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. He journeyed on by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together, and there was strife between the herders of Abram’s livestock and the herders of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land.

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Reflect

While working on a degree at MTS, I studied on the subject of simplicity. I believe that the spiritual discipline of simplicity is one of the greatest weapons we have in the fight against becoming part of our western culture today. If not careful we believe the accumulation of things is going to define us as successful or give us a sense of importance.

Most often the reverse is true–the more we have, the more complicated things become and the more strife we have in our lives. I am not saying that Abram or Lot had any spiritual deficits because the Lord gave them much in material blessings, but I can say that all their materials began to be a problem among their households.

Materials are good to have and are often a source of blessing. We need to be careful, however, when material possessions lead to strife in our life or in our families.

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Pray

God thank You for Your creation and the material blessings in it. Help us to use them in a way that honors our community and also honors You!

Go with God!