Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 19, 2018
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19–21
My biggest temptation may be to trust in money more than I trust in my Master Jesus. Cash is constantly bidding for my allegiance over my commitment to Christ. I know the Lord takes care of His children, but don’t I have to save enough money to be secure? Financial planning is prudent and wise, but not to the point of replacing my dependence on God. When I obsess about the need for more money, I am totally trusting in money.
Ironically, our currency carries the not-so-subtle reminder, “In God We Trust,” perhaps engraved by our faith-filled founding fathers as a warning not to waste our energy engaging money as the source of our security. Can we trust money and trust God at the same time? No, Jesus is very clear about the status of stuff in relation to God’s devotion:
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24).
You cannot trust cash and Christ simultaneously. Money is not trustworthy. So honestly ask, “Is my future secured by my savings or by my Savior?” It is impossible to obtain a one-hundred-percent-secured financial future. God knows we need this uncertainty to stay dependent on Him. Frustration and fear become the pattern of those who focus on finances over faith.
“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?” (Ecclesiastes 5:10–11).
The love of money and trust in money are both sins. So how can we responsibly prepare for the future and remain loyal to the Lord? Start with gratitude to God for His daily provision, be a joyful and generous giver, and submit moment by moment to the Lord’s ownership. You know you trust in the Lord alone when your treasures in heaven far exceed your treasures on earth. Treasures left with Jesus produce a peaceful heart.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your generous provision each day. Guard my heart and mind from money’s provocative snare. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Application
Does cash compete with my trust in Christ? How can I aggressively store up treasure in heaven?
Post/Tweet today
Proverbs 23:5; Luke 19:8–10; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Colossians 3:5
Taken from Seeking Daily the Heart of God v.2
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