The scripture for today, June 20 (6/20), is Matthew 6:20f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:
“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.”
In describing heaven, terms are used like pearls, diamonds, emeralds, gold, and so on. So, certainly, God is not against riches. Otherwise, he would not have described heaven with those terms.
So, what is the problem? We must ask ourselves, “If I lost everything tomorrow, could I face life?”. We may say yes, but what about friends who are now unsure they want to associate with someone with nothing? So, it is not only a greed problem, but a social problem. It is a problem of losing both our possessions and our friends.
We could solve this problem by moving out into the country where possessions and social status don’t mean so much. Or we could stay where we are and just change our choice of friends. Our new friends may be truer friends than we ever had before and may need us more.
Lastly, if we lost our job, our car, our home ~ our identity ~ would we be so devastated that we would contemplate suicide as some have done? Or would we be able to look around us and see what we can do without having possessions and without having a job to occupy our time?
There are always things we can do for others. Is that truly where our heart is? In that case, loss of everything will not bring catastrophe. Rather, it can give opportunities to reveal what stuff we are made of deep down inside where our true treasure is ~ in our heart.
website……https://atomic-temporary-67613881.wpcomstaging.com
monthly newsletter+free book……http://bit.ly/katheryn
free kdp select & discounts (Searcy)……http://bit.ly/500GoodWorks
#greed, #lust, #power, #treasure, #heart, #job, #car, #home, #friends, #identity, #contentment, #satisfaction, #peace
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
“But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you.”
“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face.’
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
“…which God will bring about in his own time ~ God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords!”
“There he is to present his offerings to the Lord…a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering…. “
” ‘But sir,’ Gideon replied, ‘if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about?…But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us in the hand of Midian [enemies].’ The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have.’ “