So don’t worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?”  For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But see first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Matthew 6:31-33 HCSB

In a family with young middle school and high school aged girls on either side, you can’t help but be aware that it is Homecoming time.  Girls on the court need a suit to wear for the game and they need a party dress for the dance.  These things can cost their parents hundreds of dollars.

Now I was never on the homecoming court, but I was invited to attend an event that required a ball gown.  I remember going to New Orleans to shop for this dress.  The one I found costs 300.00.  That was a fortune in those days but my mom agreed to buy it for me.  I was a senior in high school.  I had not paid that much for my prom dresses.  Now I overhear girls and parents talking and it is nothing for them to pay 500.00 per outfit.  Wow!  Now even a bit before my time, people used to say that something was “Out of this world”  if it was really awesome.  So as a young girl, I can recall looking for a dress that was just “out of this world”.

Now I know these are very special events for them and they have to have the perfect ensemble.  I get that.  But the scripture passage today is calling us to take a good look at where our focus is.  Are we more focused on our job than we are God and His righteousness.  Are we more focused on finding the perfect dress than we are God and His righteousness.  In other words what I am asking is, are you putting God first?  The only way your children are ever going to learn to put God first, is if they see you do it and if they are raised up in a church where they see the other members do it.

So today I want you to take good hard look at your life.  Are you more worried about your job performance than you are about leading your lost co-workers to Christ?  Are you more worried about working overtime than getting your family members into church on Sundays?  Are you worried that you won’t be able to eat if you don’t work all this overtime?  Maybe you need to be tithing faithfully and asking God to help you manage your finances.  You’d be amazed at what He can do when you just do what you are called to do in the Bible.

I know that these special events are fun times, but are we more focused on what we will wear than how we will behave?  I wouldn’t want to be a teenager again for anything in the world.  But, I thank God that when I was a teenager, I had been raised by a Godly mother and grandmother who taught me how to behave properly.  They taught me that no teenage boy will ever love me like my heavenly Father.  My dad was not saved at the time, but I am so thankful that he taught me that no teenage boy would ever love me like he did either.  I wanted my parents to be proud of me and most importantly I wanted my heavenly Father to be pleased with me as well.

Our scripture passage tells us that the idolaters worry about what they will eat, drink, and wear.  When we idolize something it means that we put it before God.  So today are you putting anything before God?  Are you teaching your children to put anything before God?  Not one of us on this planet has any idea when we will be called up to meet our Creator.  The time to focus on God and the things above is right now, this minute.  That money that you make to buy those expensive things that your family loves won’t do you a bit of good in heaven.  That beautiful dress, no matter how well you accessorize, won’t help you get into heaven.

I beg you today, right now, this minute turn to God.  Focus on Him.  I am not telling you that we shouldn’t enjoy life.  No one wants us to enjoy our life more than God.  John 10:10 tells us that A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy.  I have come so that you may have life and have it in abundance.

Know that these parties and events may be a fun time, but you will never have more fun and more joy than when you put God first.  I invite you to come to know that peace that passes all understanding and the joy that never ends.    Teach your children to do the same thing (Proverbs 22:6).

Focus on God.  He wants to take care of everything for you.  He wants to do this so that you can have a worry free life.  So get your head out of this world and focus on God and the things above.  When we do this, He handles all the things down here and we don’t have to worry.

Have a great day!