Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
There is a painful tragedy that I have seen under the sun: Riches lead to the downfall of those who hoard them. These hoarded riches were then lost in bad business deals. The owners had children, but now they have nothing to give them. Eccl 5:13-14 (GW)
On the NBC reality series The Biggest Loser, families who are attempting to battle the bulge, compete against other families, to see who can be the biggest loser. It is a reverse of the old “keeping up with the Jones’.” Instead of trying to outdo each other in gaining more, these families are trying to outdo each other in loosing more. On this show when you loose you win.
In a way, this is how the kingdom of God operates. God states, those who are attempting to win at life by the world’s standards, are the losers. Those who loose by the same world’s standards, in order to gain Christ, are the definite winners.
Loosing one’s earthly worldview, in order to pick up a heavenly viewpoint, is the only sure way to win in the end. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? (Mark 8:36-37 ESV)
A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have. We didn’t bring anything into the world, and we can’t take anything out of it. As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied. But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires and schemes which drown them in destruction and ruin. Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on getting rich or having more than they truly need have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief. (1 Tim 6:6-10 GW)
“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. Your heart will be where your treasure is. (Matt 6:19-21 GW)
When we set our hearts on things above, we are not downtrodden every time things turn bad down here. When we realize that our real treasure is safe and sound- in Christ, then we do not have to worry about the things that the world worries about. I know it is not an easy thing to keep looking up when things are looking down, but when you put your hope and trust in the one who promises to never leave you or forsake you, then you can truly walk in peace in a hostile world.
Let’s face it! Things down here are not going to always be easy. In fact some may even attest that things can be downright cruel, but when you know that you have a home not built by man whose builder and architect is God, then you can patiently wait and endure until moving day comes.
Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.”(Heb 13:5 GW)
“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? “And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.
“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. (Matt 6:25-34 GW)
“There was a certain rich man who had land that produced good crops. He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ He said to himself, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God.” (Luke 12:15-21 GW)
“Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.” Luke 12:15 (GW)
The bottom line then is to put your hope and trust in the only sure thing. GOD! Guaranteed On-time Deliverance!
But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)
(so’sh?-liz’?m)From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs. Karl Marx
A person under the influence of God will give far above his means to others in need, willingly. However if you take away the influence of God in a persons life, or a society then you are also taking away that willingness to give generously. For many decades this nation has prospered and given FAR MORE than any other nation in the world because of the many God influenced people who live here.
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