It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.

—Psalm 127:2

For the worriers out there, notice above that God’s “home security system” continues to function even as we sleep. It’s so effective that you can sleep peacefully, knowing that your home is fully protected. Nor do we have to wonder how much it’s going to cost us. The psalmist makes the point that to get up early and stay up late worrying about how to pay for equipment that can’t guard your home, heart, and mind, means that you’ve chosen an idolatrous and useless system, while God gives to His beloved the gift of rest from our labors.

Proverbs 23:4-5 says, “Do not overwork to be rich . . . , cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” The competition may offer luxurious vacations, fancy cars, success in the world—but when the storms come (and they will) their idolatrous false system is useless.

Take a look at a product review from the “Spiritual Consumer Reports” and compare the two security systems: “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

The world system is passing away, but God’s system is secure forever. Which is the better product? Which provides better protection for your home? Which will let you sleep? The “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life,” or doing the will of God? May I submit that rather than striving to pay for a security system that offers no security at all because it is passing away, you might consider this: God’s system comes with free installation and no hidden fees. Now, understand that the system itself is not free, although it is free to you. It was bought at great cost: “May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead . . . through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will . . . through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

God’s security system was paid for by the blood of His only Son, thus establishing an everlasting contract (covenant) with those who sign up for His plan. The competition may promise you the world, but the installation costs and hidden fees are astronomical. “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? . . . ’” (Matthew 16:24-27).

The competition’s plan may promise the world—and it might even come through on that—but the fine print asks for your soul. What are the conditions of the contract with God? “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. . . . Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11).

Warned, did that last verse say? In other words, through the Word of God and by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, we are warned of dangers that lie ahead if we go in a certain direction. The competition offers no such protection. Why invest in a system that can cost you a fortune, even your very life, when God will install one for free that comes with a lifetime guarantee and eternal rewards? The answer should be abundantly clear by now.

Excerpt from “Beside Still Waters” now available on Amazon.

BARRY STAGNER