Christmas Stuff

The soul and spirit of man lives eternally. The body dies relatively soon after it is born (in comparison to living eternally).

It makes perfect sense to me that we should direct some of our concern toward our soul.

Instead, many live their lives in the world of unimportant pettiness.

I think we would be aghast at how much energy in living our short lives is expended toward maintaining our stuff. Our "in today, obsolete tomorrow", stuff.

Someone asked Jesus once if He would make sure his brother divided up his stuff with him. Jesus essentially replied, "What do I look like? Your lawyer?"

We are so filled with the false importance of our stuff, that we will start to look at others stuff enviously, and  actually think Jesus will help us! We'll even pray for more stuff, for God to protect our stuff, for our stuff not to go to a relative we didn't like when we die, for us to get more stuff from a rich aunt, for us to get a favorite painting or piece of jewelry from an inheritance.

Entire families feud over stuff. Churches have split over stuff.

The bible calls that "coveting".  Jesus is against it.

Luke 12:15 (AMP)  - And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man's life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance orthat which is over and above his needs.

Imagine that. Life is not about possessions. 

Acting contrary to that principle can kill your soul.

It can lead to greed, backsliding, poverty, deception, and even violence and murder.

It can separate a person from God.

The Word of God promotes giving, not hoarding and accumulating. Helping others over helping ourselves.

Life does not consist in the abundance of our stuff.

Life consists in the abundance of Jesus Christ.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com