Daily Devotionals
Monday, January 15, 2024 (Mary Ann)
Psst.
Yeah, you! Over here ….
Looking for an inflation-proof, guaranteed investment that even the IRS can never ever touch?
God has an unbeatable deal for believers: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:20-21 NLT
Well heaven should be secure enough, but what treasures are we talking about?
First of all, we’re not dealing with bank accounts, real estate, fame, success or any other earth-bound things. These are temporary. And while God has blessed us to varying degrees with these things, he has so much more to offer now and for all eternity. Colossians 3:2 says, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” This is a call for a Holy Spirit-led transformation from a self-centered life to a God-centered one.
This is God’s economy, and from society’s perspective, it’s totally upside down.
Check out the Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 3-11, for instance. Among other lessons Jesus taught, here’s where we learn that that the poor are actually blessed, the humble will inherit the whole earth and if you’re persecuted because of your faith, you should be glad.
Is that outrageous or what?
What God wants is for his followers to be learning about him and what he cares about, growing more in love with him and becoming more and more Christ-like in how we think and act. No more me-first; it’s about serving others. No more social climbing; it’s about hungering and thirsting for justice (Matthew 5:6). No more getting more, more, more; it’s about prayerfully giving, giving, giving.
Some might call it unwise. Fiscally unsound. But then I’d say it depends on where you’re building treasure and in whom you trust: Wall Street or God.
Treasures in heaven accumulate when we exercise trust in our good, good Father. When our desires increasingly match up with his. When we use those resources (money, time, talents, etc.) he’s given us to benefit others and to draw them to himself.
And here’s another bonus for right now: When we hold everything in this life loosely and fix our sights on the eternal, we draw from our treasures in heaven. (Without penalty of early withdrawal!) Because more faith = more trust = more freedom to live boldly without fear. After all, dear Sisters, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
This is God’s upside-down economy, and it’s designed to turn our world right-side up.
Sounds like a pretty good deal.
Mary Ann
Yeah, you! Over here ….
Looking for an inflation-proof, guaranteed investment that even the IRS can never ever touch?
God has an unbeatable deal for believers: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:20-21 NLT
Well heaven should be secure enough, but what treasures are we talking about?
First of all, we’re not dealing with bank accounts, real estate, fame, success or any other earth-bound things. These are temporary. And while God has blessed us to varying degrees with these things, he has so much more to offer now and for all eternity. Colossians 3:2 says, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” This is a call for a Holy Spirit-led transformation from a self-centered life to a God-centered one.
This is God’s economy, and from society’s perspective, it’s totally upside down.
Check out the Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 3-11, for instance. Among other lessons Jesus taught, here’s where we learn that that the poor are actually blessed, the humble will inherit the whole earth and if you’re persecuted because of your faith, you should be glad.
Is that outrageous or what?
What God wants is for his followers to be learning about him and what he cares about, growing more in love with him and becoming more and more Christ-like in how we think and act. No more me-first; it’s about serving others. No more social climbing; it’s about hungering and thirsting for justice (Matthew 5:6). No more getting more, more, more; it’s about prayerfully giving, giving, giving.
Some might call it unwise. Fiscally unsound. But then I’d say it depends on where you’re building treasure and in whom you trust: Wall Street or God.
Treasures in heaven accumulate when we exercise trust in our good, good Father. When our desires increasingly match up with his. When we use those resources (money, time, talents, etc.) he’s given us to benefit others and to draw them to himself.
And here’s another bonus for right now: When we hold everything in this life loosely and fix our sights on the eternal, we draw from our treasures in heaven. (Without penalty of early withdrawal!) Because more faith = more trust = more freedom to live boldly without fear. After all, dear Sisters, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
This is God’s upside-down economy, and it’s designed to turn our world right-side up.
Sounds like a pretty good deal.
Mary Ann
