It is easy for us to get wrapped up in “things,” not only the tangible things that we can see, but also the intangibles such as reputation, fame, achievement. Paul wrote about things that he thought were especially important before he received Christ. Some of those “things” were intangible, such as religious achievements, a feeling of self-satisfaction, morality. We today can be snared both by tangibles and intangibles, and as a result lose our joy.

But even the tangible things are not in themselves sinful. God made things, and the Bible declares that these things are good. God knows that we need certain things in order to live. In fact, He “giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). But Jesus warns us that our lives do not consist in the abundance of the things that we possess. Quantity is no assurance of quality. Many people who have the things money can buy have lost the things that money cannot buy.

Today’s Verse: “And He said unto them, ‘Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth’ ” (Luke 12:15).

Also read: Matthew 6:31-34; 1 Timothy 6:17; Philippians 3:4-9.

Action assignment: Make Matthew 6:33 your prayer this day. Substitute the word rightness for the word righteousness, and ask God to show you how you can make some “right” things happen.