Too much attention is focused on money and status in this world. Did you ever notice one the first things most people ask you when getting to know you is "so what do you do for a living?" Many are defined by their occupations, what kind of cars they drive and the square footage of their houses. We really need to see it all for what it is....a distraction. God will get your attention if He sees your focus is getting cloudy. He will definitely let you know when your possessions are becoming your obsessions. Trust me I know this for He did it to me. I was very successful in my career and made close to 2 million dollars at my young age. I acquired many things but also ended up getting so caught up in paying for them all. More money, more things, more responsibilities, equalled more time spent at work, including Sundays. My entire Sunday was spent at work including my two hour a day commute. I was not attending church. I lost complete focus on church. Yes I continued to tithe but God wanted ME not my money. He tried to get my attention when I was given a devastating pay cut last year and although I vowed to continue to tithe as if I did not lose such monthly income, I missed the whole point.....He always blessed me and protected me from all the goings on at that company. I always was the only one left standing after lay offs, pay cuts and firings. This was the first time any of this actually effected me. It happened because God allowed it to happen to get my attention. And I missed it. 7 months passed before God tried again when I was demanded to work a 6 day work week through the entire summer. No one else, just me. It wasn't until I truly began to fight this action and question everything, did God finally get my attention and spoke directly to me through a friend. He made it extremely clear that the pay cut was to get my attention, period. That my eyes were off Him and on the kittens, my husband, my pool and every other blessing He gave me. Can you imagine placing the importance of your pool before your Lord? Well I am ashamed to say, I did. I share my story because He wants your attention. It is not a sin to be successful. It is not a sin to have money. It is not a sin to drive a nice car or live in a nice house with a nice pool. What is a sin is when we place these things above God. When these things take our focus off of Him and the importance of our life. When we lose sight of our real purpose for being one of His children, then we really need to get on our knees and make it right. Self exam yourself today. Believe me I shutter at what would have happened to me if I had disobeyed God and continued to work there serving my bosses and that office above Him. Where would I be today if I ignored His voice that day ? For He told me to quit my job right then and there and trust Him. And I did and from that day on I live for Him. For I live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Hebrews 11:1
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