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Belonging vs Belongings
People are gregarious, this means they enjoy the company of other people. It also means that removing the company of other people is considered punishment, solitary. There are people who try hard to remove themselves from human company, we consider them odd, eccentric, or just weird.
People want to belong!
We also like things. We like our televisions, we like our cars, computers, VCR's, DVD's, dishwashers, microwaves, summer cottages, boats, cameras, and a thousand other things that we associate with 'the good life'. There is nothing wrong with accumulating things, they make life more enjoyable. The problem is when things become more important to us than belonging!
One hundred years ago everybody knew their neighbors. They had too since the only way to get news and entertainment was from your neighbors. One hundred years ago our neighbors were also our friends. This also had to be, for the same reason. Today we get our news and entertainment from the television and most of us know few, if any, of our neighbors. Most of our neighbors are strangers, this is a very unfortunate situation.
We are slowly getting ourselves into a real problem because our belongings are becomming more important than belonging. It is a real tragedy when friendships end because of things.
Possessions do not make a man rich, neither does money. The rich man is the one with faith in God and lots of friends. A man who belongs is rich regardless of how many belongings he has.
Focus on what is important, at least once a week, shut off the television and go visit one of your neighbors.
Luke 10: 17-20
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
It is more important to belong to those who will reside in heaven (be on the list) than to have all the power on earth.
AMEN