The Shoe Collection
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Imelda Marcos, but I have ended up with quite a collection.
Reference: A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. (Acts 19:19 NIV)
Explore: I was cleaning out my cupboard the other day and I could not believe the amount of shoes I had accumulated. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Imelda Marcos, but I have ended up with quite a collection.
This took me by surprise as I have quite large, wide feet so I don’t often find shoes I like that actually fit. But as I went through my shoe collection I ended up with a whole bag of shoes I no longer wear.
The sad thing was that there was a whole other bag of shoes that I had bought and hardly ever worn. I’d clearly been taken by them in the shops, spent the money, but not liked them once I was home.
I’m not one to buy incredibly expensive shoes, but it was clear that I had wasted a considerable amount of money on something I’d never used.
Application: It’s amazing how many useless things we can accumulate over time. If we don’t stop to take stock every now and again we could end up on the next season of the Hoarders!
I think it’s also important to take stock of other things in our lives too. If we’re not aware of our sinful thoughts and actions then we’ll will find they start to accumulate too.
When those who were practicing sorcery gathered up all their scrolls to burn they discovered they had spent a fortune. I’m sure this had not been what they had set out to achieve, but over time the scrolls had accumulated and they had continued to spend their money on them.
You will be accumulated something in your life too. That’s why it’s important to be aware of what you are putting your time, money and devotion into to make sure that it honours God.
Prayer: Lord, it’s so easy for me to accumulate negative thoughts and impractical objects. May I be aware that everything I have is a gift from You and that it is my responsibility to give You praise with all that I have and all that I am. Amen.
What are you accumulating?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.