Simplest Gifts: The Best Gifts
This morning I am excited to welcome Mrs. Allison Rhodes Rogers. She has been married to Eric for 12 years, and they attend Wellspring Baptist Church. She has been working at TCS for sixteen years, and absolutely loves it. She has a Master's Degree in Foundations of Education from Troy State University. Allison is also a 1999 graduate of TCS, and her mom is the infamous "Miss Missy." In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, and working out.
The latest: iPhone, shoes, clothes, workout gear, cooking gadgets, purses, vehicles, laptops, gaming systems, etc. is all the rage until the next one comes out. There will always be a “next one” and it is usually on the market sooner rather than later. Then, we will feel like we need that one to make us happy and, of course, post on our social media. The advertising world does a great job of making things “shinier than they appear.” Sure, iPhone, shoes, clothes, workout gear, cooking gadgets, purses, vehicles, laptops, gaming systems, etc. are all great and useful items, but when they cause people to “stumble” there is a problem. Parents feel like a failure if they cannot give their child the latest and greatest for Christmas, birthdays, etc. Adults feel like a failure if they cannot afford the latest item causing jealous feelings toward peers or - even worse - loads of debt because the feeling of “I deserve this because I work hard wins out one too many times.” Often, if we would just pause, pray, and reflect on material purchases, we would find that the item is, in fact, not a true need.
The greatest gift we have is that Jesus provides all we truly need. Matthew 6:25-30 states, “Therefore, I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you - you of little faith?”
Encourage each other to reflect on the beauty of nature God has provided for all to enjoy, be thankful for the days of good health that He provides, and last but not least, be still and give thanks. The objects that are always shinier than they appear will not last or benefit us when we breathe our final breath, but the eternal home that Jesus provides for all of those who profess Him as their Savior will remain.