| Today's Word June 5, 2009 |
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Today's Word for Friday June 5, 2009
Treasures
Defined by Webster:
Wealth or riches stored or accumulated; anything or person greatly valued or highly prized; to put away for security or
future use.
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"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
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Webster's first definition of treasure is accumulated wealth or riches. We all know how hard people are working today to get as much money as they can so that they can buy all the material things that they think they must have to be happy. In Matthew 6:19 Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth." Why not? Because Jesus went on to say that material things do not last as they are subject to destruction by moths, rust and can be stolen by thieves.
If money becomes our treasure it will consume all our time and energy. There is nothing evil about money, in fact it is needed to supply our everyday needs. But the scripture says that the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil.
Jesus goes on to remind us in Matthew 6:24 that you cannot serve both God and money. When money and possessions become all consuming we will have no time for serving. What Jesus does want us to accumulate or store up is treasures in heaven. So what are treasures that we can store up in heaven? Everything that we do in life that is in obedience to God and His Word is a treasure that we store up in our account in heaven. Acts of obedience to God cannot be destroyed by moth's, rust or stolen by thieves.
Another definition of treasures given by Webster is to put away for security. When we obey God we are putting away treasure for the security of eternal life with God in heaven. How can we treasure anything more? We can remember a crippled lady who could not leave her house. Every day she would spend hours praying for specific people. She was laying up her treasures in heaven.
Both of our mothers in their later years were in assisted living homes with hours on their hands. Both of them told us how much time they would spend each day praying for us, our extended families and those that needed special prayer. They were laying up treasures in heaven.
God gives us time, talent and resources. He gives some more then others but with what he gives us, are we doing all we can to build up our treasures in heaven? It is something we all need to think about.
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Give me the strength today to live my life honoring your name.
Keep me from letting the material things and the pleasures of the world
become my treasures. Help me to strive to store up treasures in heaven
that honor you. I praise you for who you are. I thank you for what you
have done for me. And I ask you to give me a new drive so that I may do
what you ask me to do today to further your kingdom.
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Your Friends,
Ken and Dottie Phillips
"Today's Word" is sent to you free
to encourage you to commit today to
serve and honor God as a family.
These Family Devotional Thoughts are written by Dr.Ken Phillips, ministry director for World Bible Society, and his wife Dottie. Ken has had ministry positions with The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, World Vision, Youth For Christ, World Opportunities International, and World Bible Society. He also has consulted for more than 20 Christian ministries in management and stewardship development. Ken and Dottie have been married for 52 years, and have 6 children and 21 grandchildren. Come back regularly to enjoy their Family Devotional as they share their thoughts about living in God's Word!
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13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. |
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