Spiritual Check-Up The Lord is My Shepherd I Shall Not Want: Letting Go of Worldly Wants to Embrace Spiritual Treasures

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1 KJV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” – Galatians 5:22 KJV

Introduction
The desires of the heart can either draw us closer to God or entangle us in the snares of the world. “Want” in a spiritual sense is more than just yearning for material possessions; it’s about aligning our needs and desires with God’s will. This Bible study explores the importance of spiritual housekeeping, letting go of worldly things, and focusing on the fruit of the Spirit to prepare our hearts for heaven.

 

Lesson Overview

Spiritual Housekeeping

Spiritual housekeeping involves removing the clutter of worldly desires to focus on the things that matter to God. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 KJV) reminds us that love, joy, peace, and faith  ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. These attributes testify to a spirit of excellence in a person. They are far greater treasures and material wealth. True contentment comes from knowing our sins are forgiven and that God meets our needs according to His perfect will. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

The Story of Solomon

Solomon’s story demonstrates how God blesses those who seek Him first. When Solomon became king, he didn’t ask for wealth, power, or fame but for wisdom to lead God’s people. God was pleased with Solomon’s humility and granted him not only wisdom but also unparalleled wealth and honor (1 Kings 3:8-14 KJV). 

Solomon’s prayer to God for wise leadership of people God had entrusted to him. God was pleased and blessed Solomon for things he did not ask for. 

1 Kings 3:8-14 KJV ⁸And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. ⁹Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? ¹⁰And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 

¹¹And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither has asked riches for thyself, nor has asked the life of thine enemies; but has asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 

¹²Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. ¹³And I have also given thee that which thou has not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

¹⁴And if thou will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

 

Wants vs. Needs

Needs in God’s Will: A small home to shelter a family, a vehicle to earn a living, or a sustainable income to provide for loved ones.
Wants Outside of God’s Will: A mansion to impress friends, the newest luxury car for status, or excessive riches for selfish ambitions.
James 4:3 KJV  warns, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” We must evaluate whether our desires align with God’s purpose for our lives.

 

The Dangers of Worldly Wants.  Worldly desires can become traps:

Debt and Desperation: Seeking grandeur beyond our means can lead to financial ruin and unholy compromises. People lose jobs or income drop then they are tempted to rob, steal or kill to keep things they can no longer afford.  Paying in full or low payments with a budget will allow you to keep a home under all circumstances even if you take advantage of a program or arrange payments or get a part time gig.

Empty Promises: Many celebrities speak of the dark side of fame, revealing the heavy costs of chasing wealth and notoriety. They sell their souls. Once they are use to the fancy cars, mansions, fake friends, parties, and fame they want out.  The devil uses these temptations to draw us away from God. By living simply and focusing on serving God, we avoid the enemy’s snares.

 

Living Simply in God’s Grace

Tiny homes and minimalist lifestyles reflect a shift in values—choosing freedom over excess. They don’t want all their money to go to bills. They want to travel and not worry about making more money all the time. They don’t want to legally steal to make a living. There are so many internet scams, house stealing, and price gorging in all industries. Its crazy. Even the government can’t get enough. The richest country in the world-taxes, law suits and regulations that require fees and reduced benefits are hurting small businesses and the cottage industry. Its ridiculous. 

Luke 18:18-27 KJV  When we trust God to meet our needs, we free ourselves from the burden of worldly desires. As Matthew 6:33 KJV teaches, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

¹⁸And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? ¹⁹And Jesus said unto him, Why call thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

²⁰Thou know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother. ²¹And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 

²²Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lack thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. ²³And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. ²⁴And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 

²⁵For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.   ²⁵For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁶And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? ²⁷And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

 

A critical part of spiritual housekeeping and aligning your life with God’s will is learning to differentiate between assets and liabilities. This principle applies not only to finances but also to the desires of your heart. 

 

What Are Assets?
Assets are things that add value to your life, whether spiritually, emotionally, or materially. They are tools God can use to provide for your needs or help you serve others. Examples of assets include:

A modest home that shelters your family. It will accrue equity over time. It is also a legacy for your family and children. The family home. Some things have value beyond money.

Note:  If the home is in a location that will not allow it to acquire equality or in bad shape it could money wise become a liability as the value is not profitable. They call these money pits. An evaluation is in order A reliable vehicle to help you work or support your ministry or share ride for friends to get to work or school. Part of it is tax deductible. 

A skill or job that provides for your family and blesses others.  It is income on a balance sheet.

Equipment that can be sold or taken to the pawn shop, or yard sale if you needed immediate money. Antiques and popular in demand items are worth money. In the bible days, olive oil was very valuable.

An excellent network of friends and loved ones and family.  Baby boomers find they are losing out on close networks because they are outliving everyone.  Ask God for help in rebuilding. 

 

What Are Liabilities?

Liabilities are things that drain your resources—money, energy, or spiritual focus. They often come from wants that aren’t aligned with God’s will. Liabilities can lead to debt, anxiety, and unholy compromises. Examples include:

A high end luxury car purchased to impress others, causing financial strain. It loses almost half its value once driven off the lot. The monthly insurance is a house payment. 

A large house or mansion bought for status that has a mortgage, not for practical needs or service. Determine if it is a liability or assets.

Is the house just for you or can the house have many functions?  Give someone poor, single parent or elderly relative an affordable place to live, bed and breakfast, work from home job or home based business to earn a living or maybe hold bible study or do a service where you may prepare meals to feed the homeless, or keep children that are awards of the state? 

Pursuing fame or possessions that distract from God’s purpose for your life. God made Kings rich because they govern countries.  There is no need for God to make you filthy rich. Be careful of want. Be rich in love and wisdom. There is no substitute.

 

How to Apply This Spiritually

Evaluate Your Desires: Ask yourself, “Will this add value to my life and align with God’s plan, or will it burden me spiritually and financially?”

Align with God’s Will: Pray for guidance before making decisions. As Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart… and he shall direct thy paths.”

Focus on Eternal Assets: The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV) are eternal assets that prepare you for heaven. Love, joy, and peace never depreciate in value.  

By understanding the difference between assets and liabilities, you can honor God in your decisions and live a life free from unnecessary burdens, focusing on His eternal treasures.

 

Reflection Questions

What worldly desires have distracted you from focusing on God?

How can you practice spiritual housekeeping to align your heart with God’s will?

What steps will you take to ensure your wants are in line with God’s purpose for your life?

Prayer  Lord, You are my Shepherd; I shall not want. Help me to release any desires that lead me away from You. Teach me to focus on the fruit of the Spirit and to live simply, trusting that You will meet my needs. Let my heart always be aligned with Your will. Amen.

 

Key Takeaways

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Align your desires with God’s will to avoid worldly traps. He will give you your hearts desires.
Focus on spiritual treasures that prepare you for heaven. As it is in heaven, it is on earth. 
May this lesson inspire you to live with contentment and purpose, walking in God’s will.  Follow me. 

 

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Keywords:  spiritual housekeeping, the Lord is my shepherd, let go of worldly wants, fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, aligning with God’s will, assets vs liabilities, needs vs wants, biblical contentment, Solomon’s wisdom, dangers of materialism, spiritual treasures, avoiding worldly traps, Psalm 23:1, living simply for God, trusting God’s provision, focus on eternal rewards, pray for guidance, resisting temptation, spiritual growth in Christ.

 

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  CALL TO SALVATION

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

Romans 10:9-10  9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation

 

John 3:5-6  5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is the Spirit.