Gadgets

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
– 1 John 2:15-17

Okay, I admit it. I am a gadget nerd. I love electronic and non-electronic gadgets. I am one of those people who can spend hours in Lowes or Home Depot and dream about all the power tools that I know I don’t need and yet would love to buy. Since I do a majority of the cooking at home, I can also go into Williams Sonoma and spend hours dreaming about how I can use a lot of expensive kitchen gadgets that I don’t need. Let’s not even talk about going to Best Buy.

The key is to keep everything in perspective. It is not that gadgets and all the other wonderful things this world has to offer are all evil. The problem comes in when the things of this world become my focus. If I am working 40+ hours a week in order to buy the latest and greatest item, whether it is a car, a computer, or a blender, then my priorities are skewed. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Does this mean that if I seek God first in my life that I will get all the wonderful things that the world has to offer? NO! What Jesus is talking about is our basic needs. We need to go back to verse 31 and 32, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” If I surrender to Christ, He will provide for my daily needs which is enough. Will I get to enjoy some of the things this world has to offer? Maybe, but if I don’t get to enjoy the things of the world which will one day pass away, that is okay because I at least have Christ. And that is for eternity.

Father, help me to be content with the blessings that you have given me. Help me to put You first in my life and keep the things of this world in their proper perspective. Give me eyes that see eternity and not the things of this world that will one day pass away. – Amen