The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 12:32-34,
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Here Jesus tells his disciples to make a choice. In light of the fact that our heavenly Father is pleased to give us his kingdom, to bring us into his family, chose him. Our hearts go to what we make our treasure. He tells his disciples to give up the stuff in this life and acquire treasure in heaven. That treasure will never be exhausted, can't be stolen, can't be destroyed and won't wear out.
The truth is that although stuff here may be enjoyed for a time, it all gets left behind. Since so many of us strive for riches here without either obtaining them or yearning for more, it all leads us astray, causing us to think that happiness is just around the next investment, the next pay raise, the next toy. The truth is, as Solomon wisely told us in Ecclesiastes, "it" isn't found there. An "emptiness" is all that is arrived at, exactly what we thought we would be leaving behind, when real wealth is acquired, when the toys are acquired.
Last night I watched an interview of George Harrison of the Beatles filmed prior to his death. In it he made the revealing statement that early in their lives they had accumulated much wealth with all its attending toys and trappings at a relatively young age. He said they were fortunate to obtain it early enough in life because they found that "it" wasn't in wealth and all that wealth can bring. Because of this they began to turn to a spiritual quest to find "it", happiness and fulfillment in life. Unfortunately, they began by looking in all the wrong places. But, experientially, they discovered a truth that Jesus taught. Happiness can't be found in stuff here, and since our hearts go to where our treasure is, store up treasure in heaven while here.
One comment here Jesus made really grabs my heart, "your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." Imagine! What a wonderful disposition God has toward us! If we but embrace him in faith, he welcomes us into his family! This is where happiness is found! This is where fulfillment is found! This is where "it" is found!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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