JOB 1:20-22 – Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

THEME OF THE DAY. BE WARY OF THE WORLDLY STUFF. All of us have “worldly stuff”. Just check our basements, closets, sheds, garages, spare rooms, and other places where the accumulation of our “worldly stuff” is stored. Our “worldly stuff” is harmless in and of itself. However, the pursuit and acquiring of “worldly stuff” may lead to severe spiritual consequences that will prove irreversible if we don’t wake up to its subtle pull in our lives. And to help us with that wake-up call, if we need it, let the following words of King Solomon do its work. Here was a man who gave himself over to “worldly stuff” which included the pursuit of a life of ease, pleasure, and to just “kick back” and enjoy life. His story is sad. And one word may characterize it – wasted. Why? He failed to be wary of the “worldly stuff”. Instead, he pursued and lived life investing in the “wrong stuff.” Slowly read his warning . . .

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11).

It needs to be repeated. Sad. So sad is what we read of King Solomon. And if we are not careful, it may happen to us. Oh, we likely won’t have all the “worldly stuff” he sought and accumulated. But that doesn’t matter. It isn’t the amount of “worldly stuff” that leads to wasting the only life we have. It is our affections and attachment to “worldly stuff” that derails one’s spiritual life and leads to an end of life filled with remorse and regret.

So, take time and evaluate ourselves. Are we investing and concerned more about “worldly stuff” than the “real stuff”, the eternal and spiritual? If King Solomon’s warning isn’t enough for us, read today’s scripture. We are not taking any “worldly stuff” with us when we leave this life, but we will take the “real stuff” – the spiritual and eternal stuff.

PRAYER: “Father, may I not invest more time, energy, and resources in this world at the expense of the eternal world.”

QUOTE: “Don’t let the pursuit of the things in this world draw you away from what is most important – the next world.”