All That and A Bag of Chips
Recently, I made my routine trip to the grocery store for the weekly ritual of draining my funds to feed myself. As I wandered the snack aisle, I was drawn to the colourful array of potato chips lining the shelves—Lay’s, Doritos, store-brand chips—each vying for my attention. After weighing the prices and considering the flavour I craved, I reached for one of the most oversized bags available and gently placed it in my cart.
After checking out and returning home, I eagerly opened my giant bag of potato chips. To my dismay, the vast bag contained far less than its size had suggested. It was mostly filled with air—specifically nitrogen, used to protect the chips from breaking and spoiling—but still, I felt disappointed. Opening a giant bag to find so little inside is undeniably a letdown.
This experience reminded me of something I see all too often: the "Bag of Chips Person." These people present something they value for its taste and texture—unproductive vices, idols, or addictions—surrounded by behaviours and beliefs designed to protect these treasures from the world. But when the bag is opened and we examine the contents, the appearance of abundance never matches the actual reality.
When we examine what we hold within ourselves, will Jesus be pleased with the contents? Will He be satisfied with what we’ve surrounded our treasure with?
In this study, we’ll examine three aspects of the bag of chips: its Packaging, Protection, and Prize, and their implications for our spiritual walk with Christ. We’ll understand why we sometimes adopt this Bag of Chips lifestyle and discover a more productive, Christ-centered way of living.
Blessed King of the Universe, our Lord and Savior, Maker of the Heavens and the Earth, shine Your face upon us and give us Your wisdom as we dive into Your Word. Help us connect more deeply with You in our hearts and to honestly examine what we hold dear and what we protect ourselves with, so we can better align with Your will for us. As we begin this study, allow us to place Jesus above all other things in our hearts. In the name above all names, we pray this, amen.
The first thing that draws us to a product is its packaging. Advertisers spend millions each year perfecting their products’ packaging, meticulously selecting colours, sizes, and shapes designed to capture our attention. Proverbs 27:20 reminds us, "Human eyes are never satisfied. " Companies capitalise on this insatiable nature, often at our expense. Just like a shiny bag of potato chips filled mostly with air, the product inside usually doesn’t match the promises made on the outside.
We, too, can fall into the trap of presenting a polished “packaging” to the world. It’s easy to adopt a façade, projecting success, strength, or control when, in reality, we’re struggling inside. This is particularly common for those who come from challenging pasts—addiction, abuse, or dysfunction—where presenting a tough exterior is a survival mechanism. Parents often feel pressured to show the world a "perfect" family life, while the reality may be very different behind closed doors. Leaders and those in authority may maintain a carefully constructed image, but that image often burdens their souls.
In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their obsession with appearances, saying,
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence... On the outside, you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Jesus’ words are a sharp reminder that our outward appearance does not fool God. The world teaches us that "image is everything" and that first impressions matter most, but God teaches us that what matters is the heart. What packaging do we present to the world? Is it one of strength and control while we’re struggling on the inside? What are we working so hard to appear to be, and why?
In the Old Testament, cultural laws focused heavily on ceremonial cleanliness and outward behavior. However, these laws were always intended to point toward inner transformation. Deuteronomy 10:16 commands the Israelites to "circumcise your hearts," emphasising that outward observance is meaningless if the heart is not aligned with God.
Similarly, Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 challenges us today: Are we putting more effort into our external image than our internal relationship with God?
Once we’ve constructed the perfect image, the next step is to protect it. Just like the air in a bag of chips serves as a cushion to preserve the product, we also build up our own “protections” to guard what’s inside us. But often, these protections are as empty as the air in that chip bag.
Some people puff themselves up with pride and ego, creating an exaggerated sense of accomplishment or importance. They boast about success, inflate their achievements, and craft an image that hides their true selves. On the other hand, some wrap themselves in a victim complex, using past hurts to manipulate or gain sympathy, avoiding the hard work of confronting their inner condition.
But just like the air in a chip bag, these protections—whether pride or victimhood—don’t nourish us. The things we use to protect our image are just like the empty air in that bag—ultimately hollow. They only trap us in cycles of self-deception. Are we inflating our egos to avoid facing what’s truly inside? Do we hide behind our pain or pride rather than finding healing in Christ?
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul urges us to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." When we rely on our own abilities, knowledge, or status for protection, we miss out on the actual security that only Christ can provide. Instead of inflating ourselves with pride or wrapping ourselves in victimhood, we should submit our hearts to Christ and let Him shape our identity and worth.
King Saul in the Old Testament provides a powerful example of what happens when we prioritise false protection over obedience to God. In 1 Samuel 15, God commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites, sparing nothing utterly. But Saul, driven by ego and the desire to preserve his reputation before the people, disobeyed and spared the Amalekite king and the best livestock. When confronted by the prophet Samuel, Saul excused his disobedience by claiming he wanted to offer sacrifices to God. But Samuel responded with these famous words in 1 Samuel 15:22-23:
"To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry."
Saul’s protection—his public image—had become more important to him than obeying God. Like the air in a bag of chips, his ego gave him a false sense of security but ultimately led to his downfall. What about us? Are we more concerned with protecting how others see us than with obeying God’s voice?
Once we tear through the packaging and see beyond the air of protection, we come to the prize inside. Unfortunately, in the case of my snack, it wasn’t much—a small portion of potato chips, devoid of nutrition or lasting satisfaction. How many of us harbour similar "potato chips" in our souls—empty, fleeting pleasures or pursuits that offer nothing of eternal value?
We fill our lives with things that may bring temporary joy but leave us spiritually hungry. We puff ourselves up with pride, surround ourselves with protective layers, and cling to things that don’t really matter. Worse yet, we can mistake these things for our true treasures. What is it that you’re guarding so carefully? Is it worth what you’re sacrificing for it?
Some, like the secularist who mocks faith or the person who thrives on the contrary, have built cages for themselves, thinking they’ve found purpose when, in fact, they’re sheltering shallow identities. But Jesus offers something far greater than anything we can manufacture or protect. He calls us to lay down our defences, abandon our facades, and surrender to His love. When we do that, we discover that the real prize isn’t something we create—it’s the life Christ gives us when we fully submit to Him.
In Colossians 3:3-4, we read,
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Our identity, protection, and worth are found in Christ alone—not in what we’ve puffed up around ourselves.
Consider the example of Paul. Once a prestigious Pharisee, Paul had status, knowledge, and influence. Yet, he willingly gave it all up for the sake of Christ. In Philippians 3:8, Paul writes,
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”
Paul traded worldly acclaim and comfort for shipwrecks, suffering, and chains—all to gain Christ and live in obedience to Him.
This radical transformation isn’t unique to Paul. Another powerful example is Charles Thomas Studd, often called C.T. Studd. Born into wealth and fame as an English cricketer, Studd had everything the world could offer—a promising career, financial security, and societal prestige. But like Paul, he chose to walk away from it all for the sake of Christ.
Studd famously said,
"I know that cricket would not last, and honour would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but it was worthwhile living for the world to come."
His life echoes Paul’s message: this world's fleeting joys and honours pale in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Studd gave up his wealth and fame, dedicating his life to missionary work in China, India, and Africa. He faced danger, disease, and hardship, but gaining Christ was far greater than any earthly prize for him.
In these men, we see the truth of Matthew 6:19-20, where Jesus says,
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
Now we’ve examined the Packaging, Protection, and Prize. Each layer teaches us something about how we live our lives. Are we presenting a polished image to the world while neglecting the condition of our hearts? Are we protecting fragile egos or building our identity on false narratives? And what are we genuinely treasuring inside? Is it something that offers lasting fulfilment, or is it as empty as a bag of chips?
Let’s be clear: we are not the prize. Our accomplishments, knowledge, or carefully curated lives are not what we should treasure most. Even the noble work of raising children, while necessary, should not become our ultimate treasure. Only God, through Jesus Christ, deserves that place in our hearts.
Imagine living a life where your heart is fully surrendered to Christ—no longer worried about the packaging you present to the world or the protections you’ve built around your ego. Imagine the joy of discovering that the true prize inside is Christ Himself—a prize that never fades, never spoils, and never leaves you empty.
I challenge you today to open that metaphorical bag and take a moment this week in prayer to ask God to reveal where your life has become more about appearances than substance. Ask Him to strip away the false protections—pride, self-sufficiency, or fear—and fill you with the fullness of His presence. Will you let Him?
Jesus is offering you something far more filling and far more lasting than the things of this world—His love, His peace, and His presence. Don’t settle for empty air.
Let’s pray.
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