Feb. 17: PANIC SHOPPING

A true indication of a “spoiled” generation is what happens when a bad storm is predicted. A “Age of Consumerism” can’t stand the idea of “doing without” anything, even for a little while. Accessibility to everything all the time is a must. Hence the continuing phenomenon of “panic buying”. And it’s not limited to just one social or economic group, everyone gets in on it. The world may come to an end but we will have an ample supply of milk, toilet tissue, and snow shovels. It just reaffirms that materialism as a lifestyle provides no satisfaction.
When is “enough” enough? Citizens of developing countries who are accustomed to “doing without” even the basics don’t go into a panic because the weather is threatening. And since weather predicting is not really an “exact science” and many weather forecasts turn out to be totally wrong we look in shame at the table laden with “panic” overbuy! Jesus, of all people, wanted us to be as “wise as serpents” and taught us about responsibility in caring for the needs of our families, but He cautioned us about getting too “stressed out” over daily needs. In Matthew 6:25-34 from His “Sermon on the Mount” He compared our helplessness in confronting nature’s changes to birds needing food and flowers needing water. He meets their needs and in His eyes we are more valuable than animals and plants.
The lesson about God meeting our basic needs must be constantly reaffirmed. If we are going to pray the Lord’s Prayer daily or somewhat regularly, we ought to underline the part that says “give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 NIV) “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry. My God will supply all your needs” said Paul from a prison cell. (Philippians 4:12 & 19) Check it out.

“Father, I learned at an early age to sing the hymn ‘Only Trust Him’
but I am often tempted to forget what I know about You. Amen”