During my devotional time in the Scriptures, I have been reading through the Sermon on the Mount, which is found in Matthew 5–7. In Matthew 6:19–24 our Lord is teaching us about two different pulls in life. He is teaching us about two different kingdoms between which both men and women have struggled for centuries to maintain a balance. There is a constant pull to make something of ourselves and to provide for our families, which would also be a very biblical concept. As believers it is easy to lose sight to where God is calling us and to put all our energy into something that is passing away. I would hate to get to the end of my life only to realize I have given the biggest portion of my effort to building an earthly kingdom for myself. Jesus reminds us of something very important in Matthew 6:21: “for where your treasures is, there your heart will be also.”
In other words, what is most important to you currently? No one is denying the fact that you must provide for your family and put a roof over their head and food on the table. In fact, Jesus works through means to bring about His will and many of those means are realized in your efforts to work and provide for your family. The balance is lost when we begin to put more effort into creating a padded life over and against worshiping and serving the Lord. Jesus points to the fact that this world is coming to an end and all the riches you have worked for will one day be gone. In Matthew 6:19–20 we read, “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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Jesus ends this section with, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24). Obviously, Jesus knows we need provisions in life and that we must feed our families, but that is where we trust Him to provide for us as we work to provide for our families. We must not lose the balance and make everything in our life about making a dollar, building a lasting retirement, and missing out on important things such as spending time with family and godly friends because we are too engulfed in storing up treasures for ourselves here on earth. You never know, this very day the Lord may call your name and you leave this walk of life. If that be the case, can you honestly say that your “treasures are stored up in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matt. 6:20)?
I get it, believer! It is a hard line to tow and at times can become very difficult because many people make everything about riches and how well one is doing in this society. It is often how friends and family assess you to see whether or not you are blessed. Many people think because of money that God’s blessings are on them and this is not always the truth. There are many people in our world who belong to the Lord and do not know where their next meal will come from except that it will come from the Lord. Our heart should always be to serve our Lord and to live as Paul taught in Philippians 4:12–13: “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” What a great blessing! Whether you are rich and have much or whether you are poor and have little, God is with you!
Dear believer, keep a balance, serve the Lord, walk through the doors He opens for you that provide for your family, and realize always that we cannot serve God and wealth. God is who we serve; money is a means He uses to help us live in this society until He calls us home. Keep the balance between the two.
God bless,
Pastor Corey
In other words, what is most important to you currently? No one is denying the fact that you must provide for your family and put a roof over their head and food on the table. In fact, Jesus works through means to bring about His will and many of those means are realized in your efforts to work and provide for your family. The balance is lost when we begin to put more effort into creating a padded life over and against worshiping and serving the Lord. Jesus points to the fact that this world is coming to an end and all the riches you have worked for will one day be gone. In Matthew 6:19–20 we read, “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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Jesus ends this section with, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matt. 6:24). Obviously, Jesus knows we need provisions in life and that we must feed our families, but that is where we trust Him to provide for us as we work to provide for our families. We must not lose the balance and make everything in our life about making a dollar, building a lasting retirement, and missing out on important things such as spending time with family and godly friends because we are too engulfed in storing up treasures for ourselves here on earth. You never know, this very day the Lord may call your name and you leave this walk of life. If that be the case, can you honestly say that your “treasures are stored up in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matt. 6:20)?
I get it, believer! It is a hard line to tow and at times can become very difficult because many people make everything about riches and how well one is doing in this society. It is often how friends and family assess you to see whether or not you are blessed. Many people think because of money that God’s blessings are on them and this is not always the truth. There are many people in our world who belong to the Lord and do not know where their next meal will come from except that it will come from the Lord. Our heart should always be to serve our Lord and to live as Paul taught in Philippians 4:12–13: “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” What a great blessing! Whether you are rich and have much or whether you are poor and have little, God is with you!
Dear believer, keep a balance, serve the Lord, walk through the doors He opens for you that provide for your family, and realize always that we cannot serve God and wealth. God is who we serve; money is a means He uses to help us live in this society until He calls us home. Keep the balance between the two.
God bless,
Pastor Corey
Recent
Archive
2024
2023
November
December
Categories
no categories
Tags
no tags