Something to think about as we start our day

Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.

Observation: God wanted the people of old to spend both their money and their time wisely.

Application: Nutritionally speaking, they are called “empty calories.” These are snacks and other forms of food (using the term loosely) that have little if any nutritional value. They often consist mainly of two kinds of ingredients, namely forms of sugar and a whole bunch of other ingredients that few of us can even pronounce. It’s not really food. It’s not really true nutrition.

Time vampires, to use a direct marketing guru’s phrase, is another culprit. Not in terms of nutrition, but in terms of what we do with our time. Much of it is more or less wasted. I’m not saying that we should be complete production-a-sauruses (my own little term for it). There is deep an abiding value, at times, to just be with someone else or even to be by oneself for quality reflection and the like. But so often we are doing neither of these things, let alone doing something productive. We mindlessly surf TV channels and/or the Internet or get lost in our addiction to gaming or checking e-mail or whatever other time-vampires we allow to take hold of us.

The Lord would point us to another way. Spend (whether money or time) on that which is worthwhile, that which truly satisfies.

Which leads to an interesting question. What truly satisfies you? What really leaves you feeling fulfilled at the end of the day?

What, if you could look back 10 years from now (or even a week from now), would be the kind of endeavor for which you would be deeply grateful for having been engaged? And is what you are doing right now, at this very minute, leading you in that general direction?

“Listen carefully to me” says the Lord through the prophet Isaiah. “Eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food.”

Somehow I think the Lord is referring to something far greater than just lunch, though a healthy lunch might still be a good start.

Prayer: Lord, help us to take heed to your advice with how we spend all of the resources you have provided at our disposal. They are truly your gifts for us to receive with joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


(Readings today include: Isaiah 53-56 and 2 Peter 2)