Setting our sights far too low

On the first occasion I visited Africa I was advised not to carry any expensive belongings, for example, not to wear an expensive watch in case it was stolen. My 30-year old Seiko didn't seem like an obvious target, but I did as I was told and instead wore a very cheap black rubber Casio watch, and I survived, unthreatened, unscathed; in fact I felt welcomed and accepted wherever I went.

But it set me thinking about what thieves steal. I remember when DVD players were first available, they were expensive and few people had one - and they were targeted by thieves; then mobile phones, then laptop computers, now smart phones and tablet computers are common targets.

But why do we set our sights on such minor things?

We probably only see the things that are just one or two steps beyond our reach, instead of those items which are beyond our comprehension entirely. While a thief looks at my watch or camera, I look at my neighbour's slightly newer car and slightly bigger house and think how nice it would be to have such things; however, I don’t pay any serious attention to a 'super-car' or a mansion, as these will clearly never be within my reach.

But there are things that are much, much more valuable than any such possessions and are readily within our reach and to which we pay little or no attention.

Perhaps we assume, wrongly, I am convinced, that being able to have an abiding sense of peace, to have good relationships, to have a sense of purpose and fulfilment in life, and to not worry about current circumstances - are all well beyond our reach? They may even be beyond our comprehension, as we perhaps assume 'life is stressful; that is just how it is'! So we grasp for the tiny things that appear to offer some momentary respite, a fleeting happiness; trinkets of little value, and are taken in by ‘jewels’ made of glass, which are worthless and easily shattered!

Yet we covet that bigger house, and plan and scheme for how we can earn a little more or save a little harder, or hope that we may win the lottery, or find out whether the building society will give us a mortgage based on a higher than usual multiple of earnings… And then we don’t know whether the mortgage rate will go up and make the payments impossibly high, or whether the price of houses will go down instead of up, leaving us trapped in negative equity. So, if we do acquire that desired house, we find ourselves worrying even more!

The disabled man in the Bible (Acts 3 v1-10) was not only unable to walk, but was an outcast from his society. But when Peter and John came along, all he asked for was money! But looking at him they saw his real needs - to be able to walk, to be accepted by God and to be restored into society. And that was what they gave him in the name of Jesus - not money! And he leapt to his feet, went into the Temple and praised God.

Why do we set our sights so low? Why covet one thing or another, when what we really need is peace and to be restored? These are available in Jesus name!