I Like my Stuff Too Much

Scripture:
One person pretends to be rich but has nothing;
another pretends to be poor but has abundant wealth.
Proverbs 13:7

Observation: Repeatedly, the Proverbs make it clear that earthly wealth is meaningless. That remains the case with this verse, where rich and poor are themselves "pretend" states of existence. A person is neither rich nor poor, but merely thinks themselves to be so during their life. However, their true state is likely the opposite. A person who thinks themselves rich (because they value only their worldly possessions) does not therefore value heavenly things, and thus has nothing. A person who thinks themselves poor (and thus has nothing worldly) will value the little blessing from the Lord, and thus has abundance.

Application: Almost all of us, myself included, struggle with materialism. Yes, I know my true riches are found through my faith in Jesus and resulting hope of heaven, and that all I have is a blessing from the Lord I have not earned myself. That being said ... I like my stuff a lot. Too much. Nice things make me happy. The freedom to enjoy good food and drink, and to travel to restful places, pleases me. And sometimes I think I work in order to have such things.

I work, and I have such things, and there is no relationship between those two statements. I only pretend to be well-off here on earth. I need to sincerely work for and pursue abundant wealth in heaven alone.

Prayer: Lord, may I store up treasure that will not be destroyed, that being treasure in heaven. May your work be my true work today, and whatever blessing you wish to provide for me through what seems to be my earthly labor, so be it. Amen.