Possessions or peace

There are many who pray:
‘Give us more blessings, O LORD.
Look on us with kindness!’
But the joy that you have given me
is more than they will ever have
with all their grain and wine.
When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace;
you alone, O LORD, keep me perfectly safe. (verses 6-8)

Read Psalm 4

If you had to make a choice between many possessions and having peace, which would you choose? Most people, I think, would answer, ‘Having peace’. But what would a closer look at their lives reveal? In a recent survey of primary school children, about eighty per cent of them stated that their aim in life was to be rich and famous. Where did these children acquire their values: from their parents, from their culture? Probably from both.

So the test that the psalm writer holds before us who believe in God is a good test of our values. When we pray to God, what do we mainly pray for? Do we pray for material possessions and greater wealth, or do we pray for spiritual blessings such as peace with God, joy in life, and contentment with what we have?

Jesus knew the human heart so well when he declared that our heart will be where our treasure is. So if we find ourselves striving and struggling and running ourselves ragged in an effort to accumulate wealth and possessions, let’s ask ourselves whether it’s worth it. Let’s refocus and remember that our ultimate security is in God and God’s loving care.

Show me again, gracious God, the joy of your salvation and the peace that comes through your promise of sins forgiven, and so make me richer than I can ever imagine. Amen.

by John Vitale, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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