"Boxes"

They say that if you’re moving,

It really helps you see,

How much you’ve grown in Jesus,

Or as the case may be,

Not as much as needed,

When there is a test,

With all your life in boxes,

And you feel the stress,

Of leaving the familiar,

And habits you have known,

Yes, it puts a wake up on you,

About the seeds you've sown.

And all the pain and sadness,

What makes you most depressed,

Floods right down upon you,

And you must do your best,

To shed the added baggage,

What you gathered as you went,

How much should be left behind,

Too much for where you’re sent.

So ask yourself, my brother,

And of course you sisters, too,

What should be discarded,

And what should go with you.

Our treasure is in heaven,

And that’s our destiny,

And you can’t take it with you,

And may God help us see,

The hearse tows nary u-haul,

A-pullin’ stuff behind,

Just seek first the Kingdom,

And what you need you’ll find.

And if your life’s in boxes,

Loaded on some truck,

And you’re feelin’ wistful,

Sad and out of luck,

Remember to be thankful,

You’ve had things to enjoy,

Not just what was needed,

But sometimes even toys.

Surrender all to Jesus,

Don’t let things give you grief,

Let Him be the owner,

And you will find relief.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…” (Mt. 6:33, NLT)

Seeking God’s Kingdom as our first priority is liberating according to Jesus. It frees us from worry and our obsession with things, and recognizes God’s ownership of our lives. When we surrender to God’s rule, we are renouncing our rights to ownership, and recognizing ourselves only as stewards. As has been frequently said, if you own it, it owns you. But if God is the owner and we are His stewards, we are free to enjoy what we have and share with others without argument. When we move from one place to another, most of us are a bit overwhelmed by all the stuff we’ve collected. Any move becomes a great opportunity to evaluate what matters and get rid of things we don’t really need. It might be sad to see your life in boxes, but if all of them belong to the Lord, there is no need for discouragement. Jesus is Lord. It will all be okay.

Lord, help us seek Your Kingdom above all else, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.