Keeping Up with The Jones'

This week I found out a good friend of mine that I have gotten to know since we've moved to Colorado is being called with her husband and their children to Africa. I am so happy for them and I know in my heart that God has amazing plans for them. I am all about following the Lord, doing what he's calling you to do, being willing to forsake everything and everyone, taking up your cross daily and following him wholeheartedly.

I must say, their act of faith, stepping out into the great unknown, especially in another country has really challenged my own way of thinking and perceptions lately. A lot of times, even if the Lord was to call us to step out, we wouldn't be able to because of all the stuff we have. I am not against having things, and I don't believe God is either, but when things HAVE US, then there's a problem. It has caused me to reevaluate things a lot.

Our culture is driven my materialism, and the motto we are sold is "get all you can!" We have defined prosperity as having a lot of money or stuff, when thats only prosperity in one area of life. Every commercial on tv is trying to sell you something that will somehow make your life "better." We all want the nicest clothes, cars, homes, furniture, we go on elaborate vacations that we can't afford, and all for what? Because we think the next best thing will make us happy and make us look like we have it all together, when we are thousands of dollars in debt, unhappy, unfulfilled and falling apart in other areas of our lives. But hey, at least we look the part, right? Everyone is trying to keep up with "the jones'," but what they don't realize is "the jones'" are just as broke as you are!

I want to be to the point, where like my friends, if the Lord says "go," that I am able to just leave everything at a drop of a hat and not be bound by bills, loans, debt, possessions, etc. I don't believe everyone is called to make a drastic move to another country, but I do believe we are all called, just as the disciples were, to make disciples of others, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give to the poor, set captives free, and to preach the good news of the gospel to those around us. How can we do what God has called each one of us to do if we are so self absorbed and all we care about is getting more stuff and looking the part?

You can have all the money and possessions in the world, but if you are miserable, sick, depressed, in strife, lacking in any area of life, then you are poor in those areas of life. The bible says in 3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, EVEN AS your soul prospers."
So, according to the bible, if we are prospering in our soul, then we will prosper in all the other areas of our lives. If we are lacking understanding and prosperity in our souls, then we will lack in other areas of our lives. I want to prosper and live the life God had called me to live, and if that means having less stuff, then ok. I refuse to be a slave to debt, or to the image and facade the world tries to shove down our throats. I want to be free and not cherish possessions so much that I am unwilling to lay them down whenever and wherever the Lord calls us to.

Do you have possessions or do they have you? Do you cherish them so much that they are holding you back in life, accumulating more and more to make yourself happy, or impress others? Let's try to live more simply and to be willing to follow the Lord no matter what the cost or what we have to give up, keeping in mind that God will bless our obedience and sacrifices more than we can ever imagine!!