I walked into a store last week and saw employees busily unpacking toys and placing them in the middle of the aisle where kids could see them and beg, “Mom, Dad, I must have this for Christmas”. Recently, I saw news headlines that said our generation has collected a lot of “stuff” and our kids have no idea what to do with it. I look around my house and think,” I hate for my kids to deal with all this. I hope the Rapture comes before I die. That way, the unsaved who are “left behind” will have all my “stuff”. [Maybe they will read some of my Christian materials, get saved, and be ready when Jesus comes for the next load of Believers.]

Think of how things have changed over the years. Visit some old, old houses. Usually there are no bedroom closets. Instead there are pegs or nails in the wall. One holds Mama’s “Sunday-go-to-meeting” dress. Another holds her second work dress. Papa’s suit, or newer Sunday overalls hang one a nail. His older, second work overalls hang on another. A dresser or chest holds shirts, socks, and underclothes. In the mid-1940s my Dad built the house where I grew up. One bedroom has no closet. The other two bedrooms have closets the size of an old telephone booth. Then look at newly built houses. Some of them have walk-in closets bigger than my old bedroom.

Many modern families have closets that are crammed full. The garage is so full that there is no room for a car. Sometimes there is an outbuilding that is full. When we run out of space we rent a room in a storage facility. Recognize that picture?  You may have heard the old expression, “He who dies with the most toys wins”. Unfortunately, that statement is a lie. The person who wins is the person who dies with Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. You can die in a mansion, or be homeless, but if you die as a “Born Again” Christian, you win. If you die without Jesus, you lose, no matter how much or how little you have.

Consider the story Jesus told of the Rich Man and Lazarus. [Luke 16:19-31].Consider also, the words of Jesus, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul: or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Matthew 16:26]

Please understand, neither God, nor I, am against you owning many nice things. We need a certain amount of “stuff” to survive. However, we need to make sure that Jesus is Number One in our life. “Stuff” should never take His place. Jesus alone, is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church is at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
3. Prayer and Bible Study is Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
4. Remember to make your Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions during the month of December. Allow the Lord to direct your giving
5. December 8—5:00 pm—Youth and Children meet
   5:00 pm– Adult Prayer Time
   5:30pm–Adult Church Training
6. December 22–5:00 pm–Children’s Christmas Play–Finger foods and desserts in the Fellowship Hall afterwards

Celebrate Jesus

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church