August 21
Chasing More,
Finding Less
“Then he said to them, ‘Be on your guard. Watch out! Be on guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.’”
Luke 12:15 (NIrV)
Jade’s phone buzzed with a notification—her paycheck had just hit her account. A familiar rush of excitement ran through her. Finally. Time to enjoy herself.
By noon, she was scrolling through online sales, adding new shoes and dresses to her cart. That evening, she met her friends for dinner at an upscale restaurant. “I work hard. I deserve this,” she thought as she ordered another cocktail, ignoring the nagging thought that her rent was due next week.
The weekend came, and so did another getaway. A train to the city, a boutique hotel, rooftop bars, and taxi rides that added up quickly. Jade lived for these moments—where life felt exciting, where she wasn’t just the girl working at the supermarket, scanning groceries for impatient customers.
By Monday, reality hit hard. The rent reminder popped up on her screen. Then the electric bill. Her credit card balance. Her stomach twisted as she opened her banking app. Not enough. Again.
Panic rose in her chest. She had nothing left. No backup. No safety net. Just a closet full of clothes she barely wore and memories of overpriced meals. She thought back to the last time this happened—how she had borrowed from her friend Ellie and promised to pay her back. She still hadn’t.
Jade sat on her bed, her head in her hands. How did I get here again? She thought having more—more fun, more stuff, more experiences—would make her happy. But the more she chased, the emptier she felt.
She grabbed her Bible, the one she hadn’t touched in months, and flipped through the pages. Her eyes landed on Luke 12:15.
Be on guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She had been running after the wrong things. She had been living for the moment but dying in the aftermath.
Closing her eyes, she whispered, “God, I don’t want to keep doing this. I don’t want to be controlled by money, by wanting more, by this endless cycle. Please help me change.”
For the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of peace. She didn’t have a plan yet, but she knew she needed one. She would start fresh. This time, she would put first things first.
Prayer:
Lord, I have been chasing things that don’t satisfy, believing that more will make me happy.
But I see now that true life isn’t found in money or possessions—it’s found in You.
Help me to be wise with what You’ve given me.
Teach me to put my needs before my wants and to trust You with my future.
Thank You for reminding me that my worth is not in what I own, but in who I am in You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
