10th day of Lent- Philippians 3:17- 4:1

"For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:18 - 20

Sometimes I wish the line between my behavior and that of others was as clearly drawn as Paul suggests above.  "I'm not like those people, " I could then say.  But the truth is, the lines are much more blurred.  Is my god ever my belly?  That sounds pretty harsh, but I've often eaten far more than I really need.  Do I ever set my mind on earthly things? Well, I do receive a monthly pension statement and look at it to see if my investments have gone up or down.  Today's devotion writer, Maria Immonen, suggests that "the Lord's Prayer teaches us to take the needs of others seriously." Further, "It directs us toward a life of moderation- enough is all we need."  But what is enough?  Who decides?  These are not simple questions, but ones with which I can't help but struggle every day.

So, with questions like these, I have to rely on God's grace and prayerful deliberation.  What's right for me may not be right for you.  But what is clear is that since "our citizenship is in heaven," the "earthly things" pale in comparison.  It frees me up to seriously consider how much I really need, and how much can be shared for the good of others.  As you reflect on all you have, are there ways to consume less and give more?  How does the fact that, by God's grace and through faith, "our citizenship is in heaven," impact the decisions we make about what we use for ourselves and what we use for others?