Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
The fear of missing out will often put us in a position of treating our lives with a diagnosis of shoulda, woulda, coulda events. The spirit that agitates and sows dissatisfaction in the souls of people has the world on edge, believing they are missing out on something. No one is quite sure what that something is, but the anxiety of missing out or missing it is palpable in their minds and hearts. When the reverence of God and the assurance that God will take care of us are replaced with the fear of missing out, we become irrational and a fear-led people.
This was the sin that Achan fell into, which brought death upon the people of Israel and eventually his family. The fear of missing out on the worldly riches of life caught Achan by the heart. Israel lost a battle it should have won. God points out the transgression to Joshua for the reason the battle was lost at Ai. Josh. 7:11 Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings. Achan eventually is discovered to have stolen the items that were supposed to be set aside for God. Achan fesses up to the theft and coveting the gold. Josh. 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter, I coveted them and took them. You can see for yourself. They are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the silver under the cloak.
The fear that God would not provide affected Achan’s heart and family. They were all put to death in the judgment. Josh. 7:25 And Joshua said, “Why have you brought disaster on us? The LORD will bring disaster on you this day.” And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. The Lord warned us that anxiousness cannot add anything of value to our lives. The worry of missing out becomes the fear of missing out, which eventually causes dissatisfaction with life. Matt. 6:25 Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 27 And who of you by worrying is able to add one cubit to his stature?
I believe that everyone has experienced this fear at some time. The fear of missing out is a perplexing emotion to understand and is earth-bound in nature. We do not see many rushing to the cross in fear of missing out on what God has for them. However, people are signing away their souls and freedom while rushing out to buy an overpriced house, car, or latest gizmo that will need upgrading in a few months. What is driving the hearts and minds to react in such an irrational manner? James 4:2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. The fear of missing out will lead to lineups in store aisles and people fighting one another for the last roll of toilet paper. This state of existence has no peace to offer, but will only produce fear, anxiety, and anger.
The last few years of political unrest, financial uncertainty, and medical crises have left people fearful of everything they once felt were stable institutions. There is a backwardness about everything, and it feels unexplainable. We are finding it difficult to find the words to explain the unease in our hearts. How does one personally fix governments taking away freedoms, banks devaluing currencies, and pharmaceutical companies affecting health in negative ways? I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the common sense of everything seems of an age gone by. This is not only happening in the world system, but has also slipped into the thinking of many church attendees. They hear the preacher talk about peace and joy, but cannot find any. 1Thes 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. There is a forboding taking place, and the fear of missing out is attacking the mind that should be at peace in Christ.
Jesus said, if we are going to fear something, then fear Him who has real control over our lives. Matt 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Jesus continually spoke of our Heavenly Father’s love for us and that we would never be forsaken or need to live in the aggravating emotion of fearfulness. Jesus also said that we would not lack in our lives. Heb. 13:5 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Jehovah Jireh is the Lord who provides, and He adds no fear or sorrow with His provisions. Whatever it is that is needed in your life at this moment, let your Heavenly Father know what it is and that you know He hears your heart. This is a peace worth having.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I appreciate you.