Recently while reviewing Coffee with Phil 111. I was taken by a story Phil shared about King Midas.
As a child I owned a beautifully illustrated picture book telling this story. I loved how the King eventually sacrificed his ability to turn things into gold to restore his daughter to flesh, and then the two of them danced and celebrated together.
Looking back now, even though I know the story has a happy ending, I tend to find it sad. King Midas had a beautiful life, and yet, until he had lived out his desire for more and lost what he truly valued more than anything else, he was blinded to the value of his life.
For me, the experience of King Midas brought to mind Matthew 16:26, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”
There are so many good, beautiful, and desirable things in this world, there are so many things we want, but I question if we have ever slowed down enough to ask ourselves what we would be forfeiting in the process of accessing those things.
As Christians, our driving desire is for God. Ultimately, we want to have a life with Him. But how often do we make choices, or pray for things without even considering if that thing shifts us closer to or further from God? How often are we blinded by the value of our lives because of something we want?
This week, lets all take a moment to take stock of our blessings and appreciate each of the beautiful things in our lives, and then lets go one step further and talk to God about if what we want will separate or connect us to Him.
Blessings
Karla