Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.

• Proverbs 4:20-22

“There are some things that are really hard to do at the same time as something else. The classic example would be patting your head and rubbing your tummy. Let’s see what else fits into that category? Laughing and keeping a straight face. Wearing white and eating spaghetti. Pouting and raising your eyebrows. Eating saltine crackers and whistling. And the ultimate impossible combination -focusing on Jesus and keeping track of everyone else.”

• Christa Kinde, Cultivating Contentment

Several of the ideas of not being able to do at the same time have been challenges in my youth.  Some of the challenges these days can be fatal.  My wife said that the cinnamon challenge is a deadly one.

But the last one is a way of life, at least for Christians.  We know that we cannot focus on Jesus and keep our eyes on the neighbors’ new toys.

Most people called it “Keeping up with the Joneses” when I was growing up.  I called it “Continuously losing ground to the Joneses” as I got older.  It soon became “why bother” because the Smiths, Wilsons, and Hamiltons were on the heels of the Joneses.

Sadly, some of those that passed me by were laughing.  They taunted me by saying “Where is your God now?”

My worst problem was noticing them as they passed and noticing how they said their Jesus was blessing them and mine had cursed me.

That is where some of that not coveting your neighbor comes into play.  We take our eyes off Jesus.

Did Jesus see to my needs? Yes, He did.  Did Jesus keep me healthy?  I never lost employment for ill health, so I guess He did.  Did I occasionally get a few of the wants in life?  Yes, God blessed me with more than my needs on occasion.

So, why did I waste precious time looking at the green grass down the block?  That poor fellow down the block has the mow his lawn every other day.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and the only neighbors that you see are those in need, and somehow, God has given you that little extra to help them.

Maintain your focus on Jesus and forget the green grass down the block.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.