EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2020.
SUBJECT: INVEST WISELY FOR ETERNAL BENEFITS!
Memory verse: "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home." (Luke 16 vs 9.)
READ: Matthew 6 vs 19 - 21:
6:19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:6:20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
6:21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Kingdom investment have remained the most enduring investment anybody could make: It’s working in the will of God, and laying treasures for oneself in heaven. If your investments are heavenly bound, obviously your heart and desires will be geared toward eternity, and doing the will of God. One will develop a spiritual vision to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from His point of view. Jesus made it clear that having wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in such wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. If possessions or money become too important to us, we must reestablish control or get rid of items.
Jesus does not condemn material things, the possessions themselves are not wrong. What is wrong is how they were acquired and idolized. He condemns such only when the material things possess the individual, and thus, direct one’s mind away from that which is more important than the material. One must keep in mind that ambitions to acquire worldly treasures do not profit toward the edification and growth of the soul that must be spiritually prepared for eternal dwelling. There is no spiritual profit in spending one’s life in the acquisition of the things of the world, when in the end, the things of this world will be destroyed and one is left with a life that has been wasted on acquiring material things.
Treasures we possess on earth can easily be consumed or taken from us. Because we know they can easily be taken from us, we worry about them. By concentrating on those things that are above this earth, one places earthly things in the right perspective. The crown of righteousness in heaven awaits those who have forsaken the treasures of the world. Jesus contrasts the physical and temporary things of this world with the eternal, spiritual things that will endure the destruction of the physical. If one has many things of this world, one’s mind will be earth bound. If one’s mind is on those things that are above, then his or her thoughts, desires, and ambitions are on spiritual things.
In our memory verse, Jesus made one of his most misunderstood statements in the Bible when He said, "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home." Jesus did not mean for you to "buy" friends with money. What He means that we shall make wise use of the financial opportunities we have to help people find Christ. He thought that we should be wise about taking care of our spiritual life as the shrewd steward took care for his material life. If we use our money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, our earthly investment will bring eternal benefit. It is the best financial investment you'll ever make.
When you obey God's Will, the unselfish use of possessions will follow. That is what Jesus meant by asking us to "store up your treasures in heaven." Our correct use of material things will determine our right to eternal life. A man’ faithfulness is measured by what he does with what he has. Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures.
Prayer: Abba Father, let the zeal of Your kingdom eat me up, that I will invest my whole being in doing Your will, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
No comments:
Post a Comment