Today in my devotionals I've been really challenged with the theme of treasures/money. To give you a background to my life. Financially I'm a little on the meager side in the worlds eyes. Even in my eyes & heart I've began feeling this way and it's been getting me down in the dumps lately. But why? I have all that I need...a roof over my head, clothes on my back, & food at my disposal 24 hrs. a day. So the words that started challenging my heart began in Psalm 90:10, which says, "Our lifetime is seventy years, or if we are strong, eighty years, but the years are of full of hard work and pain. They pass quickly and are gone." Right then God reminded me..."you are living for eternity Abigail, not this life." So my challenge was, "life is short, so I need to be about my Fathers' business storing up my wealth in heavenly asset's not earthly ones". From there I was reminded of what Jesus said from His sermon on the Mount in Matt. 6:19-21, which says, "Don't store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moth and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is." So where does my treasures lie? I had to consider that. What do I treasure most? Well I know I treasure my husband and son. However my focus has gotten off those important things...their lives, their souls, the souls of others, the needs of others and onto my wants and desires or lack thereof. I've let the "love of money" take over my thinking lately. God's Word in Hebrews 13:5-6 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never forget you." So we can be sure when we say, "I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper. People can't do anything to me"." I need to be satisfied with what I have and quit trying to "keep up with Jones'" The American dream is to have the successful, good paying job, a beautifully built lavish home, the newest & best cars, a great 401K, a plan for your future in monetary substances. I'm not saying all these things are bad, but the love of these things are. My heart has been straying toward the thought that if I have those things I'll be happy. NO! My happiness comes from Christ and Him alone or it should. That is my challenge... to love Christ, to know Christ so intimately that HE ALONE brings my heart all the satisfaction this life can hold. That if he so desires to bless us with a lovely home and car and careers, then we can give Him all the glory for it, because he gave it to us. Just as he gives the birds of the air their nests to live in, he'll give me the nest he wants my family and I to have. If we don't get the big beautiful home and have to live in a meager abode all our lives then give thanks to God because it is a shelter from the rain. Then I'll truly be able to say like Paul, "I've learned that in whatever state I'm in to be content." WOW, there is such peace in knowing that I don't have to worry about any of it. I'm sure at times I will, because I'm only human, but I know that if I keep my eyes on the Lover of my soul then He'll give me grace to trust Him. I'll close with one other scripture..."Serving God does make us very rich, IF we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out." 1 Timothy 6:6
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