Wisdom In Your Investment

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." - Matthew 6:19-20

Most of us realize that knowledge is the key to proper saving and investing of our assets. It is certainly on the minds of many of us, including the media. There are news channels that, all day long, focus solely on the market. There are internet sites, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts that deal exclusively with money and investments.

So, what is the right starting point on investing? God's Word tells us our starting point should be eternity. If all of our focus is on earthly investing, that knowledge we have is mighty shortsighted. Eternity is a lot longer than anything in this life.

Jesus tells us that when we invest in eternal treasure, we never lose it. It has returns that last forever. We should begin with investments in eternity even before we focus on investments for college, retirement, or in whatever else we're investing. This takes faith, but it proves to God where our hearts are - whether with Him or with our money.

Many men who see themselves as strong are absolutely gutless in this area. It takes a strong man to have this kind of faith. True wisdom in investing begins with the long-term view of eternity. 

Still hungry? Proverbs 23:4, Luke 12:16, James 5:2-3

Be Students of our Children

Behold, children are a gift from the Lord..." - Psalm 127:3

 This is a devotion that we just can't read too many times, and here's why: Have you ever considered what the most difficult job in life is? It's the job of parenting; the challenge of guiding a child through the demands of growing up and helping that child become all he or she was created to be.

The Bible provides timeless insight. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." The way he should go means according to his bent. This means we have to be students of our children - learning to recognize their God-given abilities and interests. We're also to help our children develop their strengths, as well as curb and check their weaknesses.

Once we become students of our children and teach them right from wrong with a lot of prayer, the promise of God can be realized. The challenge is a great one, but the rewards of seeing our children become mature, productive adults makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Still Hungry? Genesis 1:28

Christ Likeness

Luke 12:13-21 ¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

 

If we only can get this one thing right,and the whole world stand still to understand this one thing, the greatest wealth we can experience is not measured by any currency or all the money the whole can put together but total obedience to God give Him no choice but to bless us. You know why cause God says so in His word, for obedience we are blessed but for disobedience we bring a whole lot of curses upon us even Gods fury and swift punishment. 

Let's strive for this one thing to obey God, to reference Him with exaltation and to fully submit to His power, since He said through His Son heap not for yourselves treasures on earth where moths will eat it up and rust destroy it, or thieves steal it rather heap for yourselves treasures in heaven where they will not be destroyed stolen or demolished. Though the fig tree doesn't bear fruit and the vine produce grapes I will still rejoice in the Lord. Let our lives not be defined by the fine things in life for they fade away and loose their worth rather let us be defined by the measure of Christ likeness we possess.

 

Still Hungry?  Matthew 6v19-34,1Timothy 6v3-11

 

Don't Give Up

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:17

Do you feel as though everyone else seems to have it all together except you? Are you struggling with a life-crisis caused by a personal character flaw, indiscretion, or misstep? Let me assure you that you're not alone. 

Consider the mess Moses got himself into. At age 39, Moses was at the apex of society, of status, of wealth, of educational pedigree, as the adopted son of the most prominent man in the world - Pharaoh. He was at the pinnacle of all society. And then he murdered an Egyptian he saw beating a slave. He buried the body and thought he had gotten away with it. But Moses was exposed the next day and had to flee for his life in the wilderness. Moses went from high society to desert nomad in just one day. And you're talking about a drastic change in everything about his life. 

Moses probably felt like his life was over and thought there was no chance for him ever again doing anything of significance. But, even though what Moses did was evil and wrong, God did not abandon him. God took Moses' evil and turned it into a means for good by preparing him for the challenge of his life - calling on Pharaoh to release all the Hebrew slaves.

Perhaps you can relate to what Moses went through. No matter how bad your fall or how serious your character flaw or how much difficulty you face in life - don't give up. Turn to the Lord with trust and let God do something powerful in your life. Let God develop all the Godly attributes that He wants you to have in your life. Just like He did for Moses, God still has great plans for your life!

Still Hungry? Isaiah 4:4, Hebrews 9:19, Exodus 12:2

God Understands

"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'” - Matthew 27:46 

Many Christians have a hard time understanding why on the cross Christ cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" On the surface, it seems contradictory to what we know of Christ, His understanding of His earthly mission, and His relationship with God. But the truth is that instead of being a contradiction, these words are actually a wonderful blessing for all of us!

Understand that when Jesus said those words, it was the exact moment He took all our sins upon Himself. And because God will have nothing to do with sin, Jesus was separated from His Heavenly Father. It's a picture of God having to turn away when His Son took that awful punishment of absorbing all of our sins. So, Jesus cried out because He was separated from His Father for the only time in all eternity.

Here is what is so wonderful about Christ doing this. What do we do when we face tragedy, disappointments, and rejection in our lives? Our tendency is to cry out to God, "Why? Why have You allowed this?" It's so encouraging to realize that the God of the universe understands when we ask Him, "Why?" He knows pain and He knows what it's like to ask, "Why Lord? Why?"

Still hungry? Psalm 22:1