Tag: treasures

Don’t Put Faith in Wealth

Don’t Put Faith in Wealth

The Lord urges us in His Word to avoid trusting in riches just like we would avoid a plague.  True wealth is given by God to the righteous. Let’s read the Scriptures.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.  (Pro 11:28)

Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.  (Ps 52:7)

Why do you brag about your strength?  Your strength is exhausted,you rebellious daughter.  You trust in your treasures, never imagining who would attack you.  (Jer 49:4 CEB)

Don’t trust in violence or depend on dishonesty or rely on great wealth.  (Ps 62:10 CEV)

Jesus said clearly in Mark 10:23-25 that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for people who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of heaven!  Wow!

Jesus told a parable about a rich fool in Luke 12:16-19.  This fool had accumulated so much wealth that he had to build larger barns to hold it all, and then he decided to ‘eat, drink and be merry.’  And God said to him (v. 20-21):  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

This is wisdom from God for us.  In providing for ourselves, our children, and our retirement, we mustn’t allow ourselves to start trusting in and relying upon the money that we have set aside for emergencies or for a retirement fund.  Our faith in God and our relationship with the Lord Jesus must always be the main focus and core of our lives. 

Even though the Lord gives us power to get wealth (Deu 8:18; Ecc 5:19), we must never lose sight of the fact that this is a GIFT from God.  It is a reason for thankfulness and rejoicing over the goodness of God.  We need to consider this blessing as part of our heritage from God, and by acknowledging God’s central part in it, we may then rejoice in our labor.

Let us daily concentrate upon our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our righteousness.  Here are worthy things upon which to meditate:

  • Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isa 9:6
  • Redeemer – Isa 59:20
  • Immanuel (God with us) – Mt 1:23
  • King of the Jews – Mt 27:37
  • Lamb of God – Joh 1:29
  • Bread of Life – Joh 6:35
  • Living Stone, Cornerstone – 1 Pet 2:4-8
  • Alpha and Omega – Rev 22:13

We must intentionally make Jesus the heart and focus of our entire lives.  Our trust and our entire reliance should eternally be upon Jesus Christ, who is our life!  (Col 3:4)  May God richly bless you.

Treasures

Treasures

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (Mt 6:19-21)

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.  (Pro 10:2)

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  (Ps 19:9-10)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.  (Mt 13:44-46)

. . . that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (Col 2:2-3)

We may think that wealth and riches profit us in this life.  In some ways, that is true.  However, we should remember that any so-called treasure that is a result of dishonesty or sinful pursuits will not bring us the joy that truly satisfies.  Such treasures will never profit us in eternity. 

But the righteousness that is born of faith in Jesus Christ will deliver us from many evils in this life as well as from eternal death in the next.

The Bible is packed full of precious promises (treasures) for the believer.  There are promises concerning health, healing, prosperity, the blessings of children, and the joy of relationships.  There are promises about every area of life; and all we need to do is to study them, meditate upon them, and to claim them for ourselves.  Here are several examples:

  • Children are a blessing from God.  (Ps 127:3-5)
  • Great wealth is in the house of the righteous . . . (Prov 15:6a)
  • Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  (Ps 103:5)
  • Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.  (Isa 48:17)
  • For I am the Lord who heals you.  (Ex 15:26)
  • . . . who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  (1 Pet 2:24)

These are the true treasures of life and of eternity in Jesus Christ.

Accumulate Treasure in Heaven

Accumulate Treasure in Heaven

Do you like to be a good steward?  If so, this topic should appeal to you. 

(This is Part 2 of the article titled Treasure posted to this blog on 08-08-2019.)

. . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  (Mt 6:20)

Of course, this verse is talking about spiritual treasures.  What are spiritual treasures and how are they earned?

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  (Mt 19:21)

So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  (Lk 18:22)

Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.  (1 Tim 6:18-19)

The three verses above are saying that such treasure will accumulate from believers performing kind and generous, God-glorifying acts.  We must not hoard wealth and riches. We should be ready to give, willing to share.  Spiritual treasures will also come through obediently following Jesus and bringing glory to the Kingdom of God.

There is another way to think about Matthew 6:20 and that is in light of the story of the prodigal son.  The prodigal son went to his wealthy father and asked for his inheritance.  After the son received his portion, he left home and went to live far away.  He spent all of his wealth on sinful, degenerate living.  When he was hungry and destitute, he thought of his father and his father’s household.  He determined that he’d rather be a slave for his father than to spend any more time looking for food along with pigs in a sty. 

When the father saw his son on the road near home, the father ran to the son and threw his arms around him.  With joy and celebration, the happy father bestowed gifts upon his son and held a party for him.  This depicts the fact that this son was his father’s treasure.  And the father rejoiced over the return of his beloved son, his treasure.

Does the Bible support this concept?  I think it does.  The Word reminds us that we are highly valued and cherished by God.        

“They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession.”  (Mal 3:17 NIV)

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  (Gal 3:26)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people . . .  (1 Pet 2:9)

We are God’s treasure! When God the Father looked throughout the universe for something to give His only Son in reward for what He had accomplished on earth, the Father handpicked you!  You are the Father’s treasure—His priceless gift of love to the Son!      ~ Anne Graham Lotz
(Source:  https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/joy-of-my-heart-with-anne-graham-lotz/joy-of-my-heart-with-anne-graham-lotz-january-11.html)

The Lord has chosen each one of us for Himself as His special treasure.  (Ps 135:4)

We, the children of God, are the treasure that God accumulates in heaven!  We are a gift of love cherished in the heart of God.

Love Edifies

Love Edifies

Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.  (1 Cor 8:1c AKJV)

But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.  (1 Cor 8:1c NIV)

The portion of Scripture shown above clearly reminds us that love edifies, or builds up the body of Christ.  What does this mean?

It’s our responsibility, as believers, to build up our brothers and sisters in Christ by how we live our lives and by what we teach.  (See Eph 4:11-16) 

 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.  (1 Cor 14:26 NKJV) 

The passage above reminds us that what we do and teach during an assembly or a church meeting should all be geared toward the spiritual growth and maturing of those who attend the gathering.  It gives us suggestions on what to do in order to build people up.  Our teaching, singing, and moving in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit will build up the body of Christ.  

In every situation, the Word of God is the foundation for spiritual growth.  But rather than allowing our knowledge of the Word to move us toward pride, we must be continually anchored by God’s love for mankind and by His love for each one of us. 

The Lord is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet 3:9).  His unconditional love living in our hearts will keep us stable and secure as we grow in wisdom and knowledge. 

. . . that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (Col 2:2-3 NKJV)

In Christ, we have received untold treasures!

God’s Endless Supply

God’s Endless Supply

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of your pleasures.  (Psalm 36:8 NKJV)

In this verse of Scripture, we believers are depicted as being abundantly satisfied with the ampleness, wealth, and lavishness of God’s house!  The image is of an overflowing, endless supply.  (See Gen 22:14; Dan 4:2-3; 1 Chr 29:12; Ps 112:2-3; Deu 8:18; Pro 8:21; 13:22)

There are riches in God’s house and vast treasures available to those who abide in His kingdom.  We are invited to quench our thirst and alleviate our hunger by the Lord.  We are offered supernatural hospitality in God’s house and in God’s kingdom.  He is the God of abundance as well as the God of signs, wonders, and miracles.  (Exo 15:11; Ps 77:14; Acts 2:22; 43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 14:3; Rom 15:19; Heb 2:4)  He offers us abundance spiritually and financially.  (Pro 10:22; 13:22; Isa 48:17; Jer 31:14; 2 Cor 9:8)

The phrase, “river of your pleasures,” in the verse at the top of this article alludes to a plenteous supply; copious reserve; or profuse fund of blessings and goodness.  Even as God provided abundantly in the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve, He continues to offer abundance and miracles of supply to His children daily. 

Exercise your faith today by familiarizing yourself with the Scriptures so that you may receive what you need from God’s generous and loving heart.