It’s difficult for us in an affluent country to not buy into the idea of comfort.  We see those around us who have things and we oftentimes long for those.  These things aren’t necessarily bad but where is our heart when it comes to finances?  I believe it was Billy Graham who said something like show me someone’s checkbook (that dates things) and their calendar and I’ll show you where their heart is.  Although it’s not a perfect picture, I don’t know how to get away from the truthfulness of that statement.  We spend our time and money on what's important to us.  If our schedules for the last month and bank statements were revealed to everyone, what would it say about where our heart is?

My wife and I were recently convicted about giving to a charity that gives the gospel to women seeking an abortion and provides a multitude of services encouraging them to have their babies.  The next morning in my devotional time I read this in Proverbs.  Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.  If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?  I love this passage because it doesn’t give us any wiggle room.  Isn’t it cool that God uses his Word to both encourage and convict us?  God uses this to conform us into the image of His Son.

It’s super easy for me to get caught up in the temporary things of this earth and not focus on the eternal but then I read “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.

Father, help us to be a people who are less concerned about the temporary things of this world.  Please put in our hearts an eternal perspective.  Help us to be useful to the Master. 

Love you all,
Greg