The Essential Question

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." —Philippians 4:19

I have been thinking about budgets lately. I have defined financial goals, and an solid budget. But a few things aren't meshing between the two. I've been praying about it quite a bit, and God has given me direction, as he so often does, in the form of a question, "What is essential?"

The answers to that question have been springing out all week. My Dr. Pepper/Starbucks habits are not essential. The extra snacks I pick up at the grocery store...not essential. That piece of computer hardware I’ve been eyeing... nope, not essential. Like wheat from chaff, my needs and wants are being tossed about and shaken to see which are left standing.

But I was sadly mistaken if I thought that God’s question to me would be limited to answering only the question I asked. No, that question has burrowed ever deeper in my soul, moving on to other budgets.

What is essential in my use of time? How many hours are ticked away on hobbies or interests? Are there any other goals or desires that those hobbies and interests are robbing?

It has been a revealing week, and I pray for God’s strength to reorganize. But I sit here, surveying the non-essentials strewn across the battlefield of my mind, and I am peaceful. These thoughts, which would have left me tied up in knots if I had asked without the prompting from the Spirit of God, have left me hopeful for the change that only essentials can bring.

Someone once told me, “I can tell you everything about what someone believes is important by looking at two things: Their checkbook, and their calendar.” More than our statements of belief, our actions and priorities will tell the truth about our values.

Homework this week: Prayerfully, and with an open mind, ask God to reveal those things that are non-essential in your life. Consider how you might adjust your priorities to match the priorities of God.

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