A stockroom is where goods are kept in order to maintain the flow of supplies and merchandise. It is the heart of the inventory system and acts as the headquarters of a store’s operations. If it is understocked or stocked with the wrong products, the business risks diminished opportunities, failed expectations, a tarnished reputation, stunted growth, and bankruptcy. A good manager prioritizes wisely.

In a sense, we manage our own stockroom: our spiritual heart. We operate out of what is stored there. In it we keep our moral code, Biblical principles, wisdom and understanding, convictions, values, and God’s Word. This inventory defines what we believe and builds our character. It drives our actions, focus, and attitudes. Prioritized wisely and fully stocked, a person can experience abundant growth, fulfilling opportunities, spiritual maturity, strengthened faith, an eternal perspective, and a deepening intimacy with God.

The trouble is that this world offers a vast catalog of products and peddles a buffet of ever-shifting values. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom. When we take what the world is selling, our priorities get jumbled. We find ourselves with an overstock of hollowed-out victories, paradoxical values, and dissatisfying lives:

We have cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; conquered the atom, but not our prejudice; multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; learned how to make a living, but not a life; added years to life, but not life to years; and done larger things, but not better things.

We have more conveniences, but less time; more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less good judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness; more leisure time, but less enjoyment; more kinds of food, but less nutrition; higher income, but lower morals; fancier houses, but more broken homes.

Jesus said not to chase what this world prioritizes: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Foul actions and attitudes are from a foul inventory. “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:18-19 NIV).

When we study God’s Word and examine the life of Christ, we learn what is truly important. Paul said, “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2) He teaches us to store up compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Colossians 3:12-14). We are to stow away God’s Word: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:15-16a). What we do with our time, we focus on, and we intentionally pursue will create the inventory of our spiritual hearts, the headquarters for our daily operations.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:1-44

Personal Application: If you don’t intentionally manage your heart, you will not like the actions and attitudes that come out of it. If you allow the world to set your priorities, to dictate your values, and to be your source of wisdom, you will end up spiritually bankrupt. “There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). What’s in your stockroom? What have you put into your heart today?

  Jim Grassi, D. Min.

We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5