I want to tell you a story.
It’s a story about a bird. An old wives tale says this bird, the magpie, builds one of the most elaborate nests in the animal kingdom. It spends it’s days searching for new “treasures” to bring back to its nest. It spends its entire life collecting and storing up these shiny pieces of treasure.
The magpie would have a field day at my house. My yard is full of discarded and neglected toys and trinkets. You see, as it turns out these “treasures” are nothing more than everyday objects like shards of glass, bottle caps, tinsel, and string. These things of value in the birds eye, are really nothing more than worthless junk.
What is it about this “junk” that the bird finds so valuable? Does it provide happiness? Safety? Security? Worth? Status in the eyes of other birds?
It got me thinking. Is this what God sees when He looks down at us?
A people bustling furiously to collect and gather earthly treasures? Surrounding ourselves with “things” in order to be happy? Safe? Secure? Worthy?
In His eyes, do these “treasures” we collect have any more value than shards of glass, bottle caps, tinsel, and string?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Ouch. That really hit home for me. I looked around at all of my “treasures.” These things I thought would bring me contentment, safety, security, and status. I quickly realized they were only distracting me from the true treasure I should be seeking.
Further down in verse 24 it says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
This a very direct piece of scripture. It’s clear that Jesus anticipated the love of money would be a struggle for us. That it would compete with Him as the master of our lives.
But are there other things besides money that can distract us? What else can pull us away from the calling of our true master?
It’s interesting to note that right after this verse, Jesus continues. In the next few verses, He instructs His listeners on another type of “master” they should be wary not to follow…
He says in verse 25,
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:25-27
Worry. I had never considered the fact that worry could compete with God for my devotion. Wasn’t worrying a helpful part of life? Didn’t it keep me prepared and safe?
Yes, perhaps. But there is a fine line between preparedness and peace.
Worry is part of life, but it shouldn’t get to control your life. Your thoughts, decisions and actions should be rooted in your fear of God, not fear of your circumstances.
That doesn’t mean you won’t struggle.
Your struggles are not new to God, nor do they surprise him.
The bible proves over and over again that He is steadfast in His lovingkindness to us. He is our redeemer, Jesus died one time for all time to save us from an eternity in Hell. But that’s not where His love for us ends. It’s just the beginning.
He is also our rescuer. As our master, He wants us to call on Him, not just one time, but all the time. In Psalm 55:16-17 it says,
“But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress and the Lord hears my voice.”
Morning, noon, and night. How many times will God rescue us from our anxiousness, our distress? As many times as we call out to Him.
Because we are weak and it is through weakness that Christ’s strength shines through us.
So I ask you today, when God looks down on you, what does He see?
Are you like the magpie? Distracted by the shiny things of this world? Finding comfort and contentment in your worldly treasures? Giving in to your feelings of worry? Allowing them to be your master?
Or…
Are you shining God’s light to the world? Putting your trust and hope in Him? Working through your worry to receive His peace? Allowing Him to direct your every step?
I’ll leave you with one last verse to bring this post home. As you read, consider the things in your life that compete with God. Think about which aspects take the title of “master.”
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Choose you this day.
— Chelsea
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