IF

I...F...two letters that make up a "big" word.

The longer we live, the more we can see behind us and sometimes that look back leads us to say "If only..." The reality is that we live in a world of "ifs". We contemplate the plethora of decisions we make or didn't make and wonder "If" I had made this decision this might of been the outcome or "if" I had made that decision, the direction of my life would have gone down that road.

The only problem with this "if" is that it is based on the past, on hindsight. We each live with the consequences of our decisions and we cannot go back. We can ask the "if" questions but they get us nowhere.

How do we avoid and deal with the "ifs"?

First, we seek to make the right decision at the front end. We must be able to see, with some degree of wisdom, the consequences of the decision we are faced with currently. We need to think through the "ifs" before we move forward. This is proactive not reactive.

Secondly, once our decision is made, its made. Whatever comes, as a result of our decision, it comes and there is nothing we can do to change it. We might be able to adjust it's course to some degree but once it is in motion, it accomplishes its duty whether good or bad.

Thirdly, if the decision led to the wrong or unintentional end, we must live with the consequences. It is futile to wonder or ask the "if only" questions. It is done and now we live with it. There ought to be a time of reflection and determine the cause of our misguided decision. Once that is
over, move on. There is nothing else to do but to move on and determine to never make that bad decision again.

Lastly, we need accountability in some of our decision making. Having a couple of other people close in our life can prove beneficial. The book of Proverbs has much to teach us about wisdom and the benefit we gain by having others around us.

"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed."

Proverbs 15:22

As we move forward in life, may our decisions be wise, may we celebrate the good and learn from our mistakes; never to repeat them and forget the "ifs".

How our "Stuff" Speaks to What We Value

For better or for worse, I have moved a lot in my life.

In our most recent move, I began to contemplate on how my "stuff", the material possessions I own, speaks to what I value. I became concerned with what others were thinking about my stuff and if it made any difference how much or how little I had. Does our stuff reflect our values? Does it reflect who we are as followers of Jesus?

In all the moving that I have done and assisted with, this is something I had never thought about before. My stuff has just been my stuff. I have more questions than answers on this subject but here are some thoughts.

Jesus taught that our treasure reflects our hearts. He taught that God knows that we need physical things like places to live, clothes to wear and food to eat and just like He provides for the sparrow, He will provide for us.(Matt 6)

If I accumulate a considerable amount of material things, does this indicate that "stuff" is my treasure? How much stuff is too much stuff? And if I have too much or too little, does that truly indicate the focus of my heart?

Another principle that we must consider is do we love money.The Apostle Paul teaches about this in 1 Tim 6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs". The "love of money" is the problem, not money itself.

Do I love money more than God? Jesus said we cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13). If I love money more than God, it very well be evident in the amount and cost of my stuff. The love of money leads me to be "me" focused rather than "kingdom" focused (Matt 6:33).

Our stuff, in and of itself, is not necessarily bad. How much stuff we have may not truly reflect our heart towards God or anything else but it is good to stop and think through how our stuff may reflect to those around me.