For whether one has this world’s goods does not greatly matter; what does matter is that one should be inwardly detached from them so that they do not rival God as the ultimate object of one’s interest and affections.

Something has to occupy the throne of one’s heart; it cannot remain empty. If that something is God there is no room for anything else: if it is anything else, then there is no room for God.

For in order to attain to the possession and enjoyment of God, we must learn to treat all worldly possessions and enjoyments with indifference, otherwise they will surely take us away from him as they have taken, and are still taking, many a man and woman from him.

It is not for such things as these that we were made, but for the Eternal God himself, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8; 22:13).

Reference

1. © Archbishops' Council (2000) Common Worship Collect for the weekdays after the Day of Pentecost. Available from:

http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/daily2/daily-prayer-collects/ordinary-time.aspx (Accessed 05 February 2014) (Internet).