Irreplaceable

I have the most awesome Christmas tree on the planet! (At least that's my opinion.) We started a tradition ten years ago that each Christmas, each member of our family chooses a new ornament for the tree. This makes for a unique, and somewhat eclectic, set of decorations. It also makes for one fun trip to the overcrowded department store during December. The downside to this awesomeness is that our ornaments are irreplaceable. While most of them came from a store, on a shelf of identical dozens, it's not so common to see those same identical dozens next year... So if an ornament breaks, I have to try (amidst the tears) to repair it.

I was thinking about the irreplaceable nature of our ornaments when I we put up the tree last weekend, and I was reminded that, for the Christian, there is a much more important irreplaceable aspect of life. Reading the Bible. There are many MANY things that vie for our time and attention. Work is good. But work is not our ultimate purpose. There are myriad things that supply pleasure. And while pleasure is also a good gift, it is also not our ultimate purpose. If we move into the realm of the more "spiritual", there are shelves FULL of great books about faith and pursuing our God. And they are good. But we must never let the good crowd out the best. Dear Christian, please do not let busyness crowd out the time in the Word that is necessary to your growth in faith.

But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Matthew 4:4
 
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:41-42