A Thirst That Can Be Satisfied vs. One That Cannot Be

"In my last year on Wall Street my bonus was $3.6 million — and I was angry because it wasn’t big enough." -Sam Polk, NY Times, Sunday Review, Jan. 18 2014

That quote is from this year, it reminds me of what I found in this month's daily devotional, the devotional clarified what was written in Exodus in 13th century BC. The passage in Exodus ch. 16:16-20 is referring to 'manna' (bread). This is where God commanded the Hebrew people to gather as much manna as they need to stay alive in the Sinai desert after they were freed from slavery in Egypt -some gathered much manna -some little. Then Moses said to them, 'no one is to keep any of it until morning,' but they kept part of it until morning, and it was full of maggots and began to smell.

I have stop and ask this question, 'Why do we hang on to things that we have no business hanging onto?' 

For the Israelites -it was manna, for Sam Polk -it was Money, and for others -it is so many things. We witness people, or even ourselves hanging onto time, friends, feelings, material things, and populating our life with things that don't necessarily fit it to God's bigger picture, instead of hanging onto His word, His work, and looking forward to His kingdom. Why is it so easy for us to get lulled into a false sense of security -thinking that these things will bring us happiness? It is important to remind ourselves that, it is written:

"To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."-Ecclesiastes 2:26

It seems that we hang onto things, because we have trouble keeping our 'eye on the prize'. We probably can remind ourselves of Matthew Ch. 6:19-21 everyday, and it won't be too much. 

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The the best advice we can get to change our routine of clinging to all the wrong things, is from the Bible itself. In Ephesians 5:15-17 it says:

15 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."

So I leave you with this question, 'What are you hanging onto, and what are you not hanging onto?"

By: Leah J.