Week 398

Positive post Sunday, October 13, 2024…. Week 398.  Imagine a life where achieving material wealth isn’t the focus, but rather living a life in preparation for eternal life is the goal.  Looking beyond those personal pleasures here on earth and having a vision of pure joy with our Lord when he calls us home.

Speaking of home reminds me of Matthew 7: 24-26, “(24) Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. (25) The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. (26) And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.”

Taking this one step further, building a home with a sturdy foundation is important, but equally important is how we furnish our homes.  The cupboards may be full, the house grand, but if Jesus isn’t present and visible in our homes and filling our hearts, it’s all in vain. Wealth fades, possessions break, and status is fleeting. What truly endures is God’s love and the promise of eternal life.  I encourage us all to look around our homes.  Is the presence of God visible in your furnishings and in the hearts of those under your roof?

Material things aren’t important; they’re merely temporary distractions. What really matters is a heart full of faith and a life centered on Jesus. You can’t take your possessions with you when you leave this world, but you can take your love and faith. What you leave behind isn’t the wealth you accumulated, but the legacy of love and faith, and the impact you had on others. Filling your heart with God offers something money can’t buy – eternal peace and fulfillment.

The Bible is clear on prioritizing God over material wealth. Here are some key verses:

Matthew 6:19-21: “(19) Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Mark 8:36: “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

Luke 12:15: “Then he said to the crowd, ‘Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”’

These passages emphasize the impermanence of material wealth and the importance of focusing on our relationship with God. Placing God first means our life will be guided by faith, leading to a richer and more meaningful existence, one that is far greater than one filled with material things. 

This doesn’t mean that if we have financial wealth, we can’t experience eternal life.  It’s my belief that how we use that wealth to serve our Lord and strengthen our relationship with Him will define our destiny.  Financial wealth, when used to foster spiritual growth, becomes a powerful tool for good.  Those who invest their resources into cultivating spiritual wealth recognize that material possessions are temporary, but spiritual treasures are eternal.  By supporting communities, funding missions, and aiding those in need, they create a legacy that transcends earthly wealth.

Generosity not only enriches others’ lives but also strengthens our own faith and relationship with God. Using financial wealth to advance spiritual causes aligns with biblical principles, exemplifying stewardship, and the belief that true richness is found in the love and service of God and others.

So, step out of your comfort zone, let go of earthly attachments, share our financial wealth, and embrace a life of faith, generosity, and service. God is infinitely more valuable than any material thing we can accumulate.

Are you listening to and acting on the word of our Lord, building your house on rock, not sand?

How do you step out of your comfort zone, placing God ahead of the material things in your life?