Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 3:9-12
Prov 3:9-12
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
Matt 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
In the time that Jesus was on the earth, there was a prevalent teaching that one’s righteousness could be measured by their wealth. It was assumed that if a Jew was very success financially that it was because God blessed them, and he would only do that if they were living right. Makes sense, but it is false.
There are those today who seem to believe this same teaching and they are wrong today too. It is seen in the televangelist who preach the scheme that the more money you send them, the more God will bless you. In fact, if you give them enough you can go from poverty to wealth. This teaching shows when churches appoint people in leadership positions because they are financially successful, without regard for their spiritual lives and growth.
Jesus was born into the family of a carpenter in a small ignoble village. When he was born, his parents were spending the night in a barn. When he started his ministry, Jesus chose twelve men to be his apostles and the only one who possibly would have been wealthy was Matthew and he was considered a crook by most of the people. It was the common people that Jesus chose to walk with him. It was usually the same class of people that accepted his teaching.
We are to use what God has given us to his glory. Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given in his name would be noticed by the Father. More than once greed is called idolatry. Greed is when we put our trust in our possessions. Jesus said that our life does not consist of our possessions, even when we have a lot.
O Lord God, thank you for all you give me. Keep me from putting too much value on the material things in my life. Keep me from being selfish. Give me a generous spirit so I will want to use what I have to honor you by sharing with others. Give me a heart of compassion so I can see the opportunities you give me to share. Be with our nation, our leaders and give them a heart to follow you. Guide the elections that are coming up and give us your choice. In Jesus name.
Robert
