Are All God's Gifts To Us Spiritual?

I have long had a penchant for school and office supplies. Gel pens, journals, calendars, computers, calculators, cute sticky notes - I regularly scan these aisles to see what new designs there are. 

It's true that most of this can be done digitally now, but the manual items still intrigue me. Maybe the "nouns" in our lives tell us something about ourselves, (besides how materialistic we are)!

From a young age preferences can often be seen toward certain objects, and also a disinterest in others. For example, I always loved toy animals but rarely played with dolls. Loved nature, was bored with kitchen utensils. So do these interests suggest our future jobs?

They could, but how the item is used is not always what attracts us. It may be more abstract, such as it's beauty, complexity, sleekness, orderliness, simplicity or newness. Does this mean we're materialistic if we like "things" so much?

Like an eager dog with a meaty bone, we can become possessive of our possessions. "Stuff" can trigger sins in us such as envy, greed, hoarding, overspending, debt, idolatry, theft, or selfishness. Should we then avoid the very things that excite us?

At times perhaps, but merely liking or enjoying something is part of life - it's a matter of degree. And also sometimes a matter of timing if our abilities change in the future.

Personally, I think we can learn about who God designed each of us to be by allowing ourselves to enjoy the material gifts He provides during our lives. All good things are from God, but when an item really touches your heart or shows up at a special time when it is especially appreciated - if you feel in your spirit it was sent to bless you, it probably was:

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:9-12)

Hope Inn

I was sketching this motel for fun and named it Hope Inn because I've been thinking about that topic lately.

I used to feel optimistic about most things, like job interviews and dating for example.  Sure I felt nervous, but opportunities often seemed to work out. Over time, however, my feelings began to change. The positive outcomes didn't always remain positive.

After several such changes, I began to lose confidence in things working out. Gradually my past mistakes led me to become more cautious, like the person in Proverbs 26:13 NIV who says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” Not literally a lion of course, but various dangers. For example, as mentioned in a prior post, I was troubled watching the news. Though statistically news events may be rare, they show awful things that happen to ordinary people.  I realized my stress was a problem from scriptures like this one: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Yet, night and day, anxious thoughts could trouble me and despite much prayer and effort, I was not sure how to change the way I felt.

Then one day after journaling about my concerns, I suddenly began to write line after line and page after page, starting with "I hope..."! Since then, I try to counter fearful, anxious thoughts with what I hope could happen instead. After all, best case scenarios are possible too.

I never imagined "hope" would require such effort and determination though. Anxiety can surface like a bad habit, while forcing my thoughts from imminent fears to "wishful thinking" still feels unnatural. However, with practise it gets easier and I'm starting to discover that many hopes actually come to pass.

These scriptures help assure me that hope is both a sign of growth, and a good choice:

Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV)  3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Proverbs 10:24 (NIV) What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.