Everyone, have you ever felt like you "need" to buy that item? Have you ever thought, "oh, but I have to pay such-and-such bill"? Well I'm right there with you.
I've never been the type of person who cared about having the latest technology, the latest styles and fashions, the latest home designs. I could care less about who has what brand, how much it cost, and what famous artist wore it where. I was raised humbly... by an atheist... yes, and atheist. But you know what? He's got his head on straight, a great outlook on life, great morals and great hopes and dreams - he just lacks a Lord to follow, and lacks a hope for a wonderful eternity. But this isn't about being atheist or Christian. Or maybe, in part, it is.
When I was younger, I was atheist, born-and-raised, and I'm not afraid to talk about it. I know that I've come along way with my faith, my beliefs, and with my Lord and Savior. I know that I was wrong and confused as a child and in my teens, but I have asked Jesus into my heart, and asked for His ultimate forgiveness. I have been giving my life to Him, trying to learn the true meaning to WWJD?, trying to bring others who are lost, as I once was, to Him, so that they TOO may know His love, His life, His promise to those who love Him. But I was taught not to smoke, not to drink, not to do drugs, not to lie, not to do harm to anyone, and to treat as you wish to be treated. So, in this part of my message, my point is, yeah - it's not good to be atheist - it's the worst that you could do to God, because it is denying His existence... but if you lie, cheat, steal, get drunk, smoke, do drugs (ultimately defile the temple of God which is your body), then you aren't much farther behind the atheist. Am I trying to tell anyone they're bad?
Not at all.
I just want us all to take a good look at their lives and find out where we are disobeying God, and what we can do to improve ourselves. We KNOW God exists - we say that we are faithful - we know the Word of God... but why aren't we listening? Why are we deliberately disobeying Him? Even had your child disobey you right after you told him not to do something? Doesn't it hurt you? Doesn't it make you disappointed in him, yet sad and angry at the same time? Can you imagine how God feels when we do certain things, even after we have read the Bible so many times, and heard it so many times in church? God's thinking, "Hello?!? Did you not hear Captain on Sunday? Did you not see MY Word in the Bible during your bible study last night? Didn't I tell you not to do it?"
Now, back to money... remember these verses???
6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 6:21 for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.
So tell me... what good is it to have the newest styles? Do you think God cares if you are wearing Gucci, Tommy, or whatever? To Him, it's just a piece of cloth that some guy is making hundreds of bucks off of selling you. Does it matter to Him what your friends think about the newest and most expensive decorations you have in your house? He'd rather you make sure your kids are well fed, that you have electricity/gas to get the house heated in the winter... water to bathe in and drink... clothes on your child's back... a roof over your head. Why are so many people buying things to make themselves look good in front of friends and family, when they have to beg every month for someone to pay their rent, their car, their insurance, their food? It's completely backwards... what are the basic necessities? Food, water, and shelter - not decorations, leather furniture, and what's in this season.
Let's think about what we are spending our money on, and what we actually need. Can we take any of it to Heaven with us? Not a bit. Why don't we spend that extra money on our church, our children's education, making sure there's a savings fund in case of emergency? I am the first to say, that it's so hard to get a savings going - I've tried, but every time I have something saved up, one of our daughters gets sick, or we have something that we have to pay, that simply is not in our budget. I guess that could be considered our "emergency". I also am the first to admit, that my credit cards aren't in zeros like they should... but I can safely say that it's not because I couldn't pay the bills - our budget covers all of those, every month, on time. The credit cards and full of hospital bills from 3 visits in 5 months... doctor appointments back-to-back-to-back from sick kids and ourselves being sick, prescriptions for medicine that wasn't foreseen... immigration items (doctor visits and such) that were necessary but not in our budget.
Am I perfect? Not at all. Are my finances perfect? Nope. Am I putting my children first before my own comfort and before buying any luxuries?
Definitely.
I will never put a new pair of shoes, or new curtains, or new paintings, before my bills, before food, before the mortgage. My children and my husband are the most important in my life, and they last forever, while those shoes might last a year, if seldomly worn.
Want something to invest in, that you can store in Heaven? Look back at the verses. There are many people that need our help, many that simply need someone to talk to, someone to care about them - many times without spending a dime. Maybe someone needs to hear the Word of God today - maybe today is the day, that the atheist breaks down in tears and gives her life and her heart to God. Maybe today is the day, that the sinner learns how to control his temptation, and learns to give his every day activities to learning about God and studying His promises. Maybe today, you can win a soul for Christ. These are the things that will be stored in Heaven. Make sure you are there to enjoy all the luxuries that God has waiting for you. Make sure that you have enough saved up for your first and only trip to Heavenly glory, an eternal vacation in bliss.
Remember - I may sound harsh in my words, but many of these things have I passed through, and I too needed someone to give it to me straight before I finally understood. I am not perfect, and never will be... none of us will... but we have a very good role model in Jesus. :)
Love you all! :) Take care of yourself, your loved ones, your friends. :)
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