FAMILY FAITH:

In these difficult economic times, some people are finding it necessary, and thus easier, to look heavenward. Trials have a way of doing that to us.

Our human nature is tapped into when we cannot achieve with our own hands that which we have need of.

The economy is affecting most of us.

When it is difficult to make ends meet, those who have not had other major trials recently may now turn to God for the peace they need.

This is not to say in any way that Christians who have all they need financially do not pray and seek God.

But when we add material pressure to our lives, some who may have been comfortable and felt financially blessed before may now have new reasons to seek God’s face.

And this can only be positive on a spiritual level, because God loves to have intimate time with us, and our human needs usually draw us to seek Him out.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (I John 2:15-17).

This is a powerful portion of Scripture.

We sometimes have our eyes so readily focused on what we “must” do that we miss what will truly have eternal value.

And the things we spend our time doing can be admirable — raising children, having an excellent work ethic, serving in our churches.

But within these duties we can lose the focus we are supposed to have — the eternal value of these efforts.

All that we have in life, our worldly possessions, will one day fade away.

Only what we have done for the Kingdom, and the relationships we have therein, will last forever. When we think this way, it changes our perspective.

Are we working overtime continuously to the detriment of face time with our children and modeling Christ’s love to them?

Are we seeking self-fulfillment at the cost of relationships or touching others’ lives for the Kingdom?

Does our economic discomfort cause us to worry and spin our wheels trying to make ends meet, or does it cause us to stop, kneel and pray, asking God how He would like to work out our financial problems and what He wants to teach us amid them?

God knows that we have needs, but He cares most about our relationship with Him and how we touch others for His Kingdom.

Only these truths will remain for eternity. I pray this brings perspective whatever trial, or blessing, you may face this day.

?THE REV. KIMBERLIE ZAKARIAN can be reached her by e-mail at holyhouse9@gmail.com or by mail at Holy House Ministries c/o the Rev. Kimberlie Zakarian, M.S. La Vie Counseling Center, 650 Sierra Madre Villa, Suite 110, Pasadena, CA 91107.