We love the little things that make life sweeter: a good cup of coffee, a favorite dessert, time with friends, and the blessings that brighten an ordinary day. But have we ever stopped to consider whether we sometimes place Jesus alongside the things we enjoy rather than recognizing His rightful place above all else? We can enjoy God’s blessings while remembering that Jesus is not simply an addition to our lives. He is our Savior, our greatest treasure, and the One we need most.
Scripture Focus: Colossians 2:10
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
Additional Scriptures
Have you ever seen a T-shirt that says “Jesus and coffee” or “Jesus and cupcakes”?
I understand the sentiment behind these phrases. They’re often meant to express a person’s love for Jesus while celebrating something they enjoy. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good cup of coffee or sharing cupcakes with friends!
Still, when I see these phrases, they give me pause. I find myself wondering whether, in our efforts to make faith relatable and fun, we sometimes unintentionally place Jesus alongside our favorite things rather than recognizing His place above everything else.
I’m not questioning the intentions of the person wearing the shirt. We cannot always know what someone means by a phrase, and I don’t believe we should judge another person’s heart based on a few words printed on their clothing.
Instead, I believe this is an opportunity for us to examine our own hearts.
Is Jesus enough for us all on His own, or have we become so accustomed to adding things to Him that we sometimes forget who He is?
This isn’t really about coffee or cupcakes. It’s about our priorities, our devotion, and the place we give our Heavenly Father.
Let’s take a closer look.
Philippians 3:8
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
Paul understood something that is easy for us to lose sight of when life is comfortable: nothing compares to knowing Jesus Christ.
Think about the things that bring you joy. Perhaps it’s your morning coffee, a favorite meal, time with your family, or a little treat at the end of a long day. These ordinary pleasures can be received with thankful hearts. We don’t have to feel guilty about enjoying the good things God allows us to experience.
But there is a difference between enjoying God’s blessings and making those blessings the foundation of our contentment.
What happens when the circumstances change? What happens when the prayer isn’t answered the way we hoped, the people we love are far away, or the things we once depended on are no longer available?
Paul’s confidence wasn’t built on having a life free from loss. He had learned that knowing Christ was worth more than anything he might gain or lose.
That is the kind of perspective I want to cultivate in my own life.
I want to thank God for my blessings without making those blessings the reason I love Him. I want to recognize His goodness in the ordinary moments while remembering that His worth doesn’t depend on how good my circumstances happen to be.
Jesus is not simply one of the good things in my life. He is my greatest treasure.
Exodus 20:3
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
God’s command is clear. He alone deserves our worship and ultimate allegiance.
Of course, a cup of coffee isn’t automatically an idol. Neither is a cupcake, a hobby, a favorite song, or any other ordinary pleasure. The concern isn’t that we enjoy these things. The concern is whether anything begins to occupy the place that belongs to God alone.
Sometimes, the things that compete for our attention aren’t obviously sinful. They may even be good things.
We can become so focused on our families that we neglect our relationship with the Lord. We can become so concerned about success that we measure our worth by what we accomplish. We can become so attached to comfort that we struggle to trust God when life becomes difficult.
Even good gifts can become misplaced priorities when we give them more attention, trust, or devotion than they deserve.
This is why I believe it’s worth thinking about the language we use when we talk about our faith.
When we put Jesus alongside the things we enjoy, what are we communicating? Are we simply expressing affection for Him and something we love, or have we unintentionally reduced our relationship with Him to one more part of our lifestyle?
The words themselves don’t tell us everything about a person’s heart. But they can remind us to examine our own.
We can enjoy our coffee. We can share cupcakes with friends. We can laugh, celebrate, and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.
And we can do all of that while keeping Jesus first.
The gift is good, but the Giver is greater.
Psalm 73:25
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”
Have you ever found yourself reaching for something to make a difficult day better?
Maybe it’s a favorite snack, a little shopping, a television show, or a conversation with a friend. Sometimes these things provide a welcome break, and there is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying them.
But sometimes we keep reaching for something because we are trying to fill a deeper need.
We want comfort. We want peace. We want to feel valued, secure, or content. We hope that the next good thing will finally settle what feels unsettled inside us.
The problem comes when we ask temporary things to provide what they were never meant to provide.
A cup of coffee may give us a little boost. A cupcake may satisfy a sweet tooth. A friend may offer encouragement when we feel discouraged. These are all good things, but none can replace our need for the Lord.
Psalm 73:25 expresses a heart that recognizes God’s incomparable worth. The psalmist isn’t saying that earthly relationships and blessings have no value. He is recognizing that nothing on earth can take God’s place.
We need food, rest, fellowship, and encouragement. God often uses these things to care for us. But our deepest spiritual need cannot be satisfied by accumulating more comforts or experiences.
Sometimes, the most important question isn’t, “What would make me feel better today?” but, “Lord, what do I need to bring to You?”
When we feel empty, we can turn to Him honestly. When we feel anxious, we can pray. When we feel disappointed, we can open His Word and remember His promises.
We don’t have to reject life’s simple pleasures to love Jesus wholeheartedly. We simply need to remember where our deepest hope is found.
1 Corinthians 10:21
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”
This is a strong verse, and it’s important that we understand what Paul was addressing.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul was warning believers against participating in idolatrous worship while claiming fellowship with the Lord. He was addressing divided spiritual allegiance, not whether someone could enjoy coffee, cupcakes, or other ordinary pleasures.
So why does this passage matter in our discussion?
Because it reminds us that our devotion to the Lord is not something we can separate from the rest of our lives. We cannot claim that He holds first place while deliberately giving that place to competing gods.
Today, our idols may not look like the idols of the ancient world. Sometimes they look like success, possessions, popularity, approval, or our own desire to control every outcome.
Anything we elevate above God, trusting it or serving it in His place, deserves our attention and examination.
The question isn’t whether we have favorite things. The question is whether those things have become more important to us than obedience to the Lord.
Do our choices reflect our faith? Does our use of time reveal our priorities? Are we willing to surrender what competes with our devotion to Christ?
These are questions worth asking, not to condemn ourselves or others, but to help us grow in our walk with Him.
We don’t need to judge someone’s faith because of a phrase on a shirt. Instead, we can allow Scripture to search our own hearts.
Jesus isn’t one loyalty among many equal loyalties. He is Lord.
And when we understand who He is, wholehearted devotion becomes a response to His worth, not simply another item on our to-do list.
Colossians 2:10
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
Let’s bring this conversation back to where it began.
Is Jesus enough?
Our answer must rest on who He is and what He has done, not on how many blessings surround us.
Being complete in Christ doesn’t mean we never feel lonely, struggle with difficult circumstances, or need the help of other people. It doesn’t mean that every earthly need disappears or that we stop appreciating the good gifts God provides.
It means that our standing before God and our spiritual sufficiency are found in Christ, not in the things we possess, the approval we receive, or the circumstances we experience.
Jesus is not almost enough. His saving work is not incomplete. We don’t need to add something to Him to make Him more worthy or to make our faith more meaningful.
We have a Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us. We have the hope of salvation through Him. We have the truth of God’s Word to guide us and His promises to encourage us.
And we can enjoy the ordinary blessings of life without confusing them with our greatest need.
If you love coffee, enjoy your coffee. If you love cupcakes, enjoy your cupcakes. Thank God for the things that make you smile, the people who make life sweeter, and the moments that remind you of His goodness.
But never let the gifts overshadow the Giver.
Let Jesus be more than a phrase on a shirt or a line in a social media post. Let Him be the Savior you trust, the Lord you worship, and the One who shapes the way you live.
When everything else changes, His worth remains unchanged.
Jesus is enough. He is all we need.
Take a few moments to prayerfully consider these questions. Be honest with yourself and allow God’s Word to guide your reflections.
Take these questions to the Lord in prayer. You don’t have to answer them perfectly. Simply come with a willing heart and allow Him to show you where your priorities may need to change.
Jesus is not an addition to my life. He is my Savior, my greatest treasure, and the foundation of my hope.
Take a few quiet moments today to thank Jesus for who He is, not just for what He has done for you.
Think about the things you enjoy and the blessings you are grateful for. Then ask the Lord to help you hold those gifts with open hands and keep your heart firmly anchored in Him.
You don’t have to stop enjoying the blessings. Just remember who deserves first place.
Keep Him First: Enjoy His blessings, but never lose sight of the Blesser.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings You place in our lives, both the big ones and the little things that bring a smile to our faces. Forgive us when we become so focused on what You give that we lose sight of who You are. Search our hearts and show us anything that has begun to take Your rightful place. Help us enjoy Your gifts with grateful hearts while keeping our love, trust, and devotion centered on You. Teach us to treasure Jesus above everything else and to live in a way that reflects His worth. May our words and actions point others toward You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What does it mean to keep Jesus first in the middle of everyday life? It begins with small, intentional choices: spending time in His Word, bringing our concerns to Him in prayer, and examining the priorities that shape our days.
If this devotional encouraged you, I invite you to continue growing in your faith with Thee Anchor & Light.
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Anchored in Him. Shining His Light. 🧡
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