SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/22/2020 9:45 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-3 “A Single Treasure”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matt.
6:19-21
Message of the verses: “19 Amass not for
yourselves treasure upon the earth, where moths and rust may consume it, or
thieves breaking in may steal it. 20 But provide for yourselves treasure in
heaven, where are neither moths nor rust to consume it, nor thieves to break in
and steal it. 21 For where your treasure is, your heart will also be” (Living
Oracles).
In
today’s SD we want to begin by talking about Abraham who was extremely rich for
his day, and a person who had much wealth, influence, and also one of military
strength with many of the kings in Canaan where he lived. MacArthur writes “When we first meet Job he
is vastly wealthy, and when we leave him—after the testing that cost him everything
he possessed outside of his own life—God had made him wealthier still, in
flocks and herds, in sons and daughters, and in a healthy long life. ‘And the
Lord blessed the later days of Job more than his beginning’ (Job 42:12-17).”
There
are different places in the Word of God which teach that a person should work
hard and also to follow good business practice.
“’Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I
would have received my money back with interest” (Matt. 25:27). Let us now look at the book of Proverbs “6 Go
to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, 8 Prepares her food in the summer And
gathers her provision in the harvest” (Pr. 6:6-8). “In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads
only to poverty” (14:23). “3 By wisdom a
house is built, And by understanding it is established; 4 And by knowledge the
rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches” (24:3-4). “19 He who tills his land will have plenty of
food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty”
(28:19).
Paul
speaks of having parents being responsible for saving up for their children in
2 Cor. 12:14 “Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will
not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children
are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their
children.” He explains to the
Thessalonians in 2 Thess. 3:10 this truth:
“For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if
anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thess. 3:10). He writes to his son in the Lord Timothy “But
if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his
household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
In
his commentary MacArthur writes about John Wesley who earned a lot of money,
especially from the books that he wrote, which consisted of his many sermons,
but he died he had only 28 pounds because he invested all his funds in the work
of the Lord.
MacArthur
writes “It is right to provide for our families, to make reasonable plans for
the future, to make wise investments, and to have money to carry on a business,
give to the poor, and support the Lord’s work.
It is being dishonest, greedy, covetous, stingy, and miserly about
possessions that is wrong. To honestly
earn, save, and give is wise and good; to hoard and spend only on ourselves not
only is unwise but sinful.”
We
will close this SD by quoting a story found in MacArthur’s commentary. “Some years ago, I happened to have contact
with two quite wealthy men during the same week. One was a former professor at a major
university who, through a long series of good investments in real estate, had accumulated
a fortune of possibly a hundred million dollars. But in the process he lost his family, his
happiness, his peace of mind, and had aged far beyond his years. The other man, a pastor, also acquired his
wealth through investments, but they were investments to which he paid little
attention. Because of his financial
independence, he gave to his church over the years considerably more than he
was paid for being its pastor. He is one
of the godliest, happiest, most fruitful, and contented persons I have ever
met.”
I
will say that there will be a few more SD’s done on the subject we are looking
at.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: “7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse
me before I die: 8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty
nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 That I not be full and
deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want
and steal, And profane the name of my God” (Pr. 30:7-9).
My Steps of Faith for Today: I pray that the Lord will give justice to
those who are trying to take our country down.
12/22/2020 10:29 AM
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