A story..
A dad bought his son a gift. The 10-year-old son was so excited. He opened up the gift wrap. And there it was, the game he had been asking his dad about.
His face rose like a lily in the morning sunshine, he tan-kissed his dad and said, “thank you appa, you are the best dad”
He ran back to the gift and unboxed it.
Days go by. Dad is at the dinner table, wondering, where is my son. We used to have these wonderful talks over the cool of the evening.
“Son, come, have your dinner”, he calls out.
Reluctantly son walks to dinner. Rushes to eat and runs back to his room.
This has been for a while. One day, as the son was about to run back to his room, the dad grabs his son’s hand and makes him sit.
“Son”, he exclaimed, “why are you running to your room always, why are you not spending time with me?”
The son annoyed, “why do you ask this apppaaa?
Don’t you know? I love you appa. I appreciate the gift you got me appa. Should I not take care of it?
Should I not steward it?”
The father was looking at his son speak with conviction and the son continued, “should I not appreciate and take care of what you gave me?”
“Of course, “ the dad said, and the son let go of the hands that held him as if he waited to hear just that.
“Of course my son, all those are good things and you ought to do. But are they more precious than me? Spending time with me?”, the dad spoke to an empty room. The son had already run back to his room.
An empty room with dad outstretched arm. (The camera pulls back.)
Now you can fill in the blanks of the title,
“Can blessing become an idol?”
“Can blessing become a stumbling block?”
Blessings are not bad. But our hearts towards them can make them an idol.
It could be material things, even church which was meant to be good can become an idol.
Even love for your spouse, and love for your children, can divide your focus on God.
To love your spouse and love your children is good. But if they divide your focus, and time from God, Yepp they become idols.
Even your mission, God’s calling can become an idol. On and on. You get the point.
Good gift, becoming a stumbling block.
Good or God? God I choose, for God, is the good FATHER.
Having said my rant now, let’s read the verses.
Matthew 6:31
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
The Greek word used for worry is
μεριμνάω.
It means to be distracted and to be pulled in opposite directions.
That is a very graphic word picture.
Here is my prayer, “FATHER, help me to keep my eyes focused on you. I love and cherish every moment of your good gifts. You are a good DAD, you give me good gifts and shower me with them, for you are good. Yet I would rather spend time with you in the cool of evening, in the morning sunshine, with you at the dinner table.
The children you gave me are yours, the gifts that you gave me are yours. You are able to keep what you gave me. FATHER, Your Face is Your presence. (Hebrew word for face and presence is the same)
APPA make my eyes single on YOU on your convenance. Help me steward the gifts under your feet like Mary. Let Martha be humble and sit down. Luke 10.
Give in my heart, an undivided heart FATHER. I treasure everything, every moment FATHER, yet give me the heart to focus on my Author of my salvation, the beginning, and end.”
Amen, knowing fully well, that LORD is my redeemer, I pray and receive in JESUS Name.
O, my souls rejoice for LORD is near, HIS presence is here. HE never leaves me or forsakes me.
Be blessed, my friends. I wrote this to myself as is it for you.