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| Where Is Your Treasure? |
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How hard is it for you to give up something for someone else?
19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 19:22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
I have a hard time giving things up. When I was a child, my brothers and sister were quite a bit older than me, and I was basically an only child, living at home with my parents after my siblings had already gone off to college. I didn't have to share my toys with anyone, and so consequently, it is hard for me to give up "things".
Even after becoming a Christian, I struggle with it. I know what I should do, and I try to do what God would want me to do, but I know I am lacking. I know when I write that check for the offering plate it is hard...when I know I have bills to pay, and "things" I want to buy for ME. I know every time someone asks me to do something at church I think "how much of MY time am I going to have to give up".
We were asked in our Sunday school class this week, if someone asked us to give up our most important possession, would we be able to do it? Look around the room you are in now...whether you have great possessions, or meager ones, would you be able to give them all up in a heartbeat? I have some fairly nice things. I am not rich by any means, at least as far as finances go, but I am better off than a lot. If I had to give up everything, could I do it?
Then you look at people in California right now, who are being asked to leave their homes because of wild fires. Most of those people won't have a home to go back to. There are times we have to give up things even though we don't want to. Other times it is a choice...what choice would you make? Has there been a time in your life when you have given up something BIG for someone else?
When my husband wanted to start our business, I didn't want to. I had a good job and I enjoyed it, and I knew I would eventually have to leave it to take care of the business, which I did. But I gave up my job and my time to help him pursue a dream. If we can give up things for a spouse or child, how much easier should it be to give up things for our Father?
6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We need to remember that the "things" of this life are not going to get us to Heaven. The bible holds no power if we don't believe in what it says. It is just another thing, another possession. We have to follow God and be ready to sacrifice for Him when the time comes. Not something easy to do, but, where our treasure is, is where our heart is. Where is your treasure?
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| Great message Deb. Hard lesson to learn for most of us because we work hard for the things we have. Even if we aren't overly proud of those things, we did earn them in some form or fashion, and that makes it hard to part with them. I honestly believe that is part of the principle behind fasting. Thanks for the post. |
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| Sometimes we don't want to give things up.It's hard to fathome the idea that it's all gonna burn someday anyway in the here & now.I wonder how much our "treasure"distracts us,robs us from a blessing,or keeps us from doing Gods will for our lives on any given day,week,lifetime?Great post Deb. |
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Gene |
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October 23, 2007 at 7:32am |
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Great message, Deb. That's the reason why I open my hands to pray. It helps me focus on the fact that I need to let go and give it to God.
Thanks for the wonderful blog. |
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Denise |
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October 23, 2007 at 8:32am |
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Wonderful blog Deb, wonderful message as well, it makes me as ask myself that question Where is your treasure?
Thank you |
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| Thanks Deb, this is definitely one of those things we as Christians need to revisit mentally, often. It's easy to let things creep into our houses and into our hearts. God bless you! ~mike |
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Deb |
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October 23, 2007 at 9:32am |
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Job, thank you for the link. That was a very good article. Ties in well with this blog.
Racunpoodle, you know when you said "it is all gonna burn someday", I thought about the news report last night of all those houses in California going up in smoke so quickly. That is what happens to our earthly possessions. But our treasures in Heaven will never burn.
Gene, that is a good idea to open your hands to pray. I am going to have to try that.
Denise, I am glad that you got something out of this message. Thanks for your comments!
Mike, thanks for your comments, and God bless you too! |
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Hope |
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October 23, 2007 at 9:34am |
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| Where my heat is also, In Heaven. I also value the true doctrines of Jesus Christ. |
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Hope |
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October 23, 2007 at 9:36am |
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| oops.. I meant HEART! lol I am also on fire for the Lord :o) |
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Deb |
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October 23, 2007 at 9:42am |
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| Hope, I am glad to hear that you are on fire for the Lord! I am too! I love learning more and more about Him. |
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JayKTX |
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October 23, 2007 at 10:59am |
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| Thanks for being transparent, Deb. And for a good message. |
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Deb |
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October 24, 2007 at 10:27am |
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| Jay, thanks for your kind comments. |
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| Two thumbs wau up. Great blog. I heard someone say a long times ago that anything that God had asked him to give up ad scatch marks all over it. Indeed it is hard to let go of those things, but in doing do allows us to draw gloser to Jesus. Thanks Deb or the reminder. |
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Deb |
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October 25, 2007 at 9:27am |
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| Pastor Tim, the more we give up, the closer we move to Jesus. That should be our ultimate goal, but life tends to get in the way. Thanks for your comments. |
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