Our sermon at church was about biblical stewardship on Sunday, which was so appropriate as I looked at the amount of junk we have managed to accumulate over the years.  While Mike and I are faithful tithers and givers I was really struck by the amount of time and energy I have out into accumulating “things”.

In His time here on earth, Jesus pointed to two things that are indicative of the condition of our hearts.

Jesus replied, “You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don’t you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It’s from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That’s what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands—that’s neither here nor there.” Matthew 15:16

The second thing Jesus mentions about the condition of our hearts is where we are laying up our treasure.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Luke 12:34

Hmmm, I was sad {read almost changed my mind, hid them until I found a customer who loved them as much as I do} to part with my Boyd’s Bear collection, friends.

Now, I am not trying to be legalistic or in any way confer that I believe Jesus doesn’t want us to have nice things.  But, I did get a convicting reality check when I thought of the time I have spent looking for a certain bear or any other item, for that matter, that I have now sold for a little bit of nothing because I don’t have room in my life for it anymore.

Everything belongs to God, including my time and resources.

I want my focus to be on furthering His Kingdom, not decorating mine.

I hope that you understand my heart today.  I am not guilty about owning nice things or having collections.  I won’t stop making our home (this one or the new one) comfortable and attractive for my family.

I will be more intentional about my choices though.  About how I spend my time, energy and resources.  I want to be a good steward of everything entrusted to me.

And, to the lady that bought my ENTIRE Boyd’s Bear collection- take care of them for me, ok?