Matching Socks
And there they were in the bottom of the drawer, that very last pair of clean socks, they were quickly pulled out and slipped onto the cold awaiting feet, but then it became quite obvious, this was actually not a pair, just two odd socks neatly folded together, but then they were clean, and they were available and they were certainly freshly laundered and clean. So do you just wear them, or do you waste much time and effort in trying to achieve, “Matching Socks?” Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.” Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Can we adapt this verse to read this way Matthew 16:26 [Adapted] “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain a whole drawer full of matching socks, and yet lose his own soul? Or to give “Matching Socks,” in exchange for his soul?” Matthew in writing, admonishes us to, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;” matching socks are great, but we need to have a “Heavenly Priority,” seeking a relationship with Jesus, walking in all his ways, with the cockroaches of temptation gaining no ground, as we are very alert, and active moment by moment. We are admonished to be focused, living daily the Christian Life, focused on heaven first, matching socks can come later.
If we adapt the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids, we can get it to read this way, Matthew 25:10-13 “And while they went to buy [matching socks], the bridegroom came; and they that were ready [bare footed] went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins [with matching socks], saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Luke 21:33-34 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares.” If we focus so much of our energy on the meaningless minutia, like “Matching Socks,” we often never get around to the big things like, “Eternity,” then we may find that we are going to be pounding on that closed and locked door of eternity, all dressed right in the very latest of fashion, correct “Matching Socks,” and yet so estranged from any connection and relationship with Jesus.
To go back to this verse, and in another translation we get this, Matthew 6:33 ERV “What you should want most is God’s kingdom, and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” So how much effort and energy do we expend, just to make sure all “Our Duckies are in a Row,” things are “just so,” matching socks, and then to find that the door to Heaven is locked, and we are on the wrong side, locked out.
Luke 13:23-30 ERV “Someone said to him, “Lord, how many people will be saved? Only a few?” Jesus said, “The door to heaven is narrow. Try hard to enter it. Many people will want to enter there, but they will not be able to go in. If a man locks the door of his house, you can stand outside and knock on the door, but he won’t open it. You can say, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you. Where did you come from?’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you. You taught in the streets of our town.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I don’t know you. Where did you come from? Get away from me! You are all people who do wrong!’ “You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom. But you will be left outside. There you will cry and grind your teeth with pain. People will come from the east, west, north, and south. They will sit down at the table in God’s kingdom. People who have the lowest place in life now will have the highest place in God’s kingdom. And people who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in God’s kingdom.” We can have our drawers and shelves, all military perfect, everything folded and stacked perfectly, all ordered and organized, tagged and labeled, but Jesus reminds us to, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;” Salvation “Firstly,” and “Matching Socks,” Secondly.
So when Jesus returns shortly, are we going to be all ready, even if it does mean wearing “Odd Socks,” or even “No-Socks,” or are Heavens Doors going to be closed to us, all dressed up in perfectly matching latest fashioned attire and even in “Matching Socks,” but our neglected Salvation, has totally unfitted ourselves for the purity of Heaven? Is Eternity really worth giving up for, just to be wearing “Matching Socks?” So what is consuming our time, those non-essential TV Shows, shelves all organized and perfectly in order, are we all consumed by Earthly Chores, “Matching Socks,” or is our “Eternal Life” a top priority? So, do you have “Matching Socks?”
Psalm 23:1-6 LXX “The Lord tends me as a Shepherd, and I shall want nothing. In a place of green grass, there he has made me dwell: he has nourished me by the waters of rest. He has restored my soul: he has guided me into the paths of righteousness, for his names sake. Yea, even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of evils: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, these have comforted me. Thou hast prepared a table before me in presence of them that afflict me: thou hast thoroughly anointed my head with oil; and thy cup cheers me like the best [juice]. Thy mercy also shall follow me all the days of my life: and my dwelling [shall be] in the house of the Lord, for a very long time.”
