Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Bible Text: Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.”
Memory Verse: Micah 6:8 “No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.”
Conversations about investments is one we get to have at a certain phase in life and often, some people are knowledgeable about how these works, have the resources to kick start and also opportune to start off early in life too compared to others. But without doubt, late starters likewise have the opportunity to reap good dividends because as the economists says, everything is seasonal and the markets could reach its boom or peak at any given time, providing the best of dividends. The key that lays beneath is what you do with the resources or capital you have at each given time.
Either early or a late starter, the rewards you reap is dependent on how and where you invest, in other words, you can only maximize your resources if you have foresight. Two people could have a million in currency value in an unstable economy, and while one buys a personalised top of the range automobile with private plates and crests on it to show off and move with the trends, the other goes low key putting money into lands and infrastructures with potentials to appreciate in the future. The economy crashes and source of finance ceases for both parties. Car depreciates and breaks down needing money to be fixed, land appreciates naturally over time, investors arrive to revive the economy by providing opportunities and second party is in wealth. The automobile owner rains curse on the government for ruining things, but the government is not the issue, the problem is the lack of foresight.
Storing up money in unprofitable ventures with the believe that the more cash you have, the less likely you are to go broke later in life is lack of foresight.
This same principle applies to things of the kingdom. How is your investment foresight towards the kingdom of God in preparation for afterlife? Some believe in getting for themselves the best things of life and they have become strongly inclined with material things. There is no wrong in gathering and living in wealth but are you likewise thinking about what your dividends or profits will be if you gather so much on earth and have invested nothing in heaven then you die? It’s almost like these material things gives a whole lot of comfort and as such their driver and purpose in life is simply to acquire more and more. What about heaven?
For those with no foresight for heaven, maximizing possibilities on earth is simply the most important thing and nothing else matters so therefore they are self-centered in such a way that even if God opened the windows of heaven and flood them with blessings their capacity cannot contain, the only thing that will come to mind is how to keep storing. Read the parable of the rich fool told by Jesus in Luke 12:13-21. Everything calls for a balance and God is calling us to have foresight for heaven while living on earth because it profits a little to gain the whole world.
No amount of material investments and dividends here on earth will be valid in heaven. You simply leave it all behind here and when you die and in a case where you’ve only invested here on earth, once you cross over to the afterlife, you will be the poorest, Read the story of the rich man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-32.
While we are not told not to invest, we are warned to be on guard against any kind of greed. It’s capable of eating up one’s life to a point in which all you focus on is the things on earth and simply forget about God.
The only way to store up your treasures in heaven is by investing in a relationship with God. Fellowshipping with Him necessitates moving with His trends, living on his words, abiding by them and showing constant love to others, Micah 6:8. It’s the only thing of eternal value. Every other thing is temporary and will perish with the earth but those investments in heaven reaps eternal dividends.
Invest wisely in the things of God and stop focusing on storing up things that will perish. When you focus first on the heavenly investments, all other things will be added. Matthew 6:33.
PRAYERS:
- Father I thank You for your word that gives life.
- I surrender all to you O Lord, and I receive foresight for heavenly investments in this year 2020
- Help me to fully acknowledge all on earth is vanity and help me to store up treasures in Heaven
- Forgive my iniquities Lord and let your mercy prevail over judgement
- Thank you Father and in Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.
I’m reading the YouVersion plan ‘Bible in One Year 2020 With Nicky Gumbel’. Check it out by clicking on the caption below.
