It is hard to keep up!

     The life we live can be one of chaos. One can never tell what will be coming in the next moment. It seems as if we are constantly trying to get on a level playing field or keeping your head above the water. Everyone can identify with this philosophy of trying to keep up or stay afloat. Whether, you are trying to get all your bills caught up, making sure the kids are getting to all there functions or remembering all the functions, catching up on school work or work for the office, or trying to stay up with the neighbors and the things they are doing or buying. It can be rather consuming in of itself to meet the demands of this world and the pressures it places on people to live, act, and coexist. The phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses,” has been around since 1913 and is still used today referring to the comparison between you and your neighbor.

     Honestly, life was meant for so much more than trying to keep up with the Joneses. It really comes down to our relationship with God. What I mean is that if you are focused on God’s plan for your life then you are less focused on keeping up. Therefore, the only correct way of focusing on God’s plan is through a real relationship with Jesus. (Side note – I am not your judge of what is considered a real relationship with Jesus. Jesus and Scripture determine the nature of your relationship.) Of course, if you are reading this and are not a Christian then this will make no sense at all. However, for those few who hold a real relationship with Jesus, I hope this resonates within your core. It is sobering alone for me to write this knowing I am a proponent of trying to keep up.

     We are so worried about what tomorrow might bring that we cannot enjoy the beauty of today. We are so busy trying to prepare our kids for their future that we forget to enjoy their youth. We are so consumed with working to make more money, we rarely find time to enjoy the rewards of what we have earned. We are so consumed with the next moment that we never get to enjoy this moment that will never be again. I am the worst.

     Jesus say in Matthew 6:33-34

“33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

    Okay, so this is coming off the tails of us not having two masters. I also know that I may be reading too much into it. However, if we focus on these two verses we may see the answer we need to get rid of the anxiety that overcomes us by trying to keep up. If we were to focus on the Kingdom and not ourselves or those around us and God provides the things we need because He knows our needs. Hey guess what, He even knows what we need emotionally too! Every day will bring trouble and chaos on its own and we do not need to add to it. Tomorrow’s outlook and the things we don’t have but strive for will always take our focus off of God’s plan for us today!

    I think no matter how we look at it, the big picture is us seeking the Kingdom. We seek the Kingdom to build the Kingdom. If that is our focus, when things come our way we will know what to do and not worry about how tomorrow will work out. Our Father is working out the big picture. All we need to do is trust that He is working all things together for our good BECAUSE we love Him. 

     At the end of the day, we must be assured that trying to keep up is not our main goal. Keeping up in this world can bring a world of destruction as well. However, it is not as easy as I make it sound either. If it was then I should have it all together but I don’t. It is a process and seeing where we are falling short. The first step is admitting the weakness. Boasting in the weakness allows God to take over. We have to know that His grace is sufficient and when we are weak He is strong!