August 27: When Less Is More An automobile ad depicts a family holding hands, blissfully skipping through the park toward their newly acquired $75,000 car. Fostering family values of peace and solidarity, the advertisement infers that by obtaining the car, everything in the family is now at a near perfect state. Yet, we live in a society where people are ripping their lives apart to get that car… and the appropriate house to match. The Scriptures challenge material acquisition, when it is at the expense of peace and truth: "Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil." (Proverbs 15:16) "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife." (Proverbs 17:1) "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." (Proverbs 16:8) (Also Psalm 37:16; Proverbs 15:17; Ecclesiastes 4:6) Proverbs 23:4, puts the issue into the right perspective in cautioning us: "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint." God assures us of His provision — and more, if we will but make the pursuit of Him our supreme goal: "Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." (Deuteronomy 5:33) Yesterday, a businessman friend of mine wrote a note of appreciation to me after several of us had discussed the importance of carving out quantity and quality time with our children: "Thank you for the rich session we had. I had a wonderful time with [my daughter] this morning. We had breakfast and talked for nearly an hour. All the money in the world would not be able to buy what I experienced… " By the way, are we under the illusion that we can get quality time with our kids without quantity time? QUESTION: In your family and personal life, is there a pattern of love, righteousness, and peace? Or turmoil, strife, and a sense of chasing after the wind? How would your spouse and kids answer that question of you and the family? If their response is in the negative, perhaps you need to reassess your focus and priorities. Facts of the Matter: Daily Devotionals.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 16:20:32 +0000
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