Stuff Matters Until It Doesn't

Stuff matters until it doesn’t.

Doesn’t that seem so simple? I read that and want to shout, “duh!” Bu it’s true. Stuff matters until it doesn’t. Think back to Christmas morning as a child or a birthday party; think back to a moment when you were about to receive gifts and presents. Can you remember the EXCITEMENT you felt? Can you remember the ANTICIPATION? Can you remember how you felt as you ripped open each gift eagerly making your way to the treasure hidden inside?

Clothes?!? Really? No! You got some kinda toy that, at least in that moment, you thought was the GREATEST THING EVER! You probably didn’t want it or ask for it, but since you got it, it was THE BOMB! And that battery operated robot that moved, sorta, and had flashing lights and blew smoke out of its gun was AMAZING… until you forgot about it… until it spent more time in your toy box than it did on a shelf in the store.

Stuff matters until it doesn’t.

You’ve probably already thought of a few things like the robot. You’ve probably already thought of some things gathering dust in the garage or basement (possibly your Bible… just sayin’). At one point in your life these THINGS seems really important. You just HAD to have them. You couldn’t go another moment WITHOUT them. You were convinced they were going to MEET A NEED in your life, FILL A VOID (ok, that might be overly dramatic, but you get the point). And that thing, whatever it is, that once seemed so great, is now forgotten and untouched. What happened?

We have a tendency to ascribe importance to things of little or no importance. We convince ourselves that this thing is somehow going to make our lives BETTER. We get it. We enjoy it. We get tired of it. We set it down. We look for something new. We look for something different. We find that new something and then the cycle just repeats itself. Stop. Break the cycle. End it now.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20 NIV

God says stop chasing after all that mess. God says stop looking for FULFILLMENT in things that only leave you feeling EMPTY. God has something BETTER for you. Things might make you feel happy NOW, but only God can satisfy your NOW and LATER! God offers you grace, mercy, forgiveness, hope, love… God offers you the things your SOUL desires, not just your stomach (I’m not just talking about food, work with me here).

In your pursuit of THINGS, have you placed God on the shelf (in case you missed it, read "You Can't Take It With You")? Is your relationship with Jesus gathering dust in the garage? It might be time for a change. If all that stuff was as important as you think, why didn’t it keep your attention and hold your affection? You KNOW you didn’t really need it, you just wanted it. Stuff matters until it doesn’t.

God hasn’t given up on you. God wants the best FOR you. It’s time to prioritize.