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Read 1 Timothy 6:17-19
"Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (v. 19).
Charles M. Schwab rose to the presidency of one of America's largest steel companies and quickly amassed a multi-million dollar fortune. He could do anything he desired, travel anywhere he fancied, have anything he coveted, and impress anyone he met. He built magnificent homes, threw lavish parties, played at high stakes gambling, and had a string of extramarital affairs. His life style brought him nearly to bankruptcy, even before the onset of the Great Depression. During the last five years of his life, he lived in a tiny apartment on borrowed money.
How different the life of George Mueller! Entirely dependent upon God's provision, Mueller drew no salary but supported his family on a small portion of the unsolicited offerings he received. God entrusted him with the many thousand English pounds he used to care for over 10,000 orphans in five orphanages and to provide Christian education to over 120,000 children in 117 schools. Mueller heeded the counsel of today's passage and gained eternal and true riches. We can do the same as generous and wise stewards of all God entrusts to us. (Joyce L. Cooper)
Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Who would not gladly endure
Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth,
Riches like these to secure!
- Fanny J. Crosby
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" (Jim Elliot).
This devotional is the Tuesday, December 3, 2013 entry of Opening the Word.
Image Courtesy of Cristiano Galbiati, rgbstock.com

Read Luke 12:31-40
"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faith not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth" (v. 33).
In order to determine the cost of love, we need to go to the source of love. The Bible tells us that "God is love." The next verse that comes to mind is what we often refer to as the golden text of the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). We often refer to this as the ultimate price which was paid.
Today's verse is not advocating that it is wrong to have personal possessions, but it is emphasizing how we value them. If we look upon them as God-given treasures, we should be concerned about how we best preserve and use them. It is clear here and elsewhere in Scripture that the only safe place is in heaven.
One of the ways that we "lay up ... treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:20) is by helping those who are in need both materially and spiritually. There may be times when it seems prudent to give directly to someone in need, but it is also safe to give through the missions arm of the church and other reputable charitable organizations. (Burl A. McClanahan)
Give as 'twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you.
Be to the helpless a helper indeed:
Unto your mission be true....
Make me a blessing to someone today
- Ira B. Wilson
Our heart and treasure abide together.
This is the November 27, 2013 devotional entry from Opening the Word.

Read Luke 10:25-37
"And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him" (v. 34).
Only for love.
Agnes Bojaxhiu, known worldwide as Mother Teresa, was not of my belief; it is her attitude and actions I consider here. She spent most of her life in the slums of Calcutta, India, among the world's worst. She worked among the poor and sick, unclean though they might be. She was their helper who fed and sheltered them, doing all she could and directing others in that work. A reporter watching her work on a bad case said, "I wouldn't do what you do for a million dollars!" She replied, "Neither would I!" It was for love of the poor and ill.
In our scripture portion, a lawyer was speaking to Jesus. Justifying himself, he asked, "Who is my neighbor?" No one ever received a better answer: It was the account of the Good Samaritan. The Jews unjustly hated Samaritans. You will remember that the wounded man was bypassed by a priest and a Levite. After telling this wonderful story, Jesus asked, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?" The lawyer did not want to answer, but he made the right choice. Jesus then replied, "Go and do thou likewise." (Joel E. Miller)

The lawyer asked a question,
An important question indeed
But just who is my neighbor?
That's anyone having a need
- Joel E. Miller

Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
"Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?" (v. 29)
We were in Beginning Theology class. Our godly professor was discussing attitude issues from a decidedly biblical perspective. Eloquently yet simply he talked about how attitudes influence others for good or for evil. In the course of his discussion, he described a certain attitude by saying, "It stinks."
An international student quickly remonstrated. "You said 'stinks.' In my country that is a swear word. Christians don't say that!"
Just as quickly our professor responded. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it would be offensive. I won't say it again." I spent many more college hours in that professor's classroom and do not recall him repeating that word again.
Was my theology professor in bondage to what others thought? Was he afraid to take a strong position for fear he would hurt someone? The answer is no on both counts. The professor was simply following biblical teaching about not offending a weaker brother or sister.
Is it wrong to say "stinks"? No. Not in most circumstances. But it is wrong to offend your brother. Deleting a word from your vocabulary or avoiding going somewhere that might cause a weaker fellow Christian to stumble or in countless other ways being considerate of others is the Christian way of living. (MDA)
Be considerate.
This devotional is the Sunday, November 17, entry of the September through November 2013 edition of Opening the Word. Order your copy today!

Read Matthew 5:20-24
"Leave there thy gift before the altar; and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (v. 24).
Abraham Lincoln said his heart had "no room for the memory of a wrong." Forgiveness is not complete until the severed friendship is mended. The new weld of forgiveness should result in a deeper, strong union than had existed before. Forgiveness is acceptance with no exemption.
Most of the time forgiveness is not instantaneous; it takes time, work, will, and perseverance. To forgive someone, you must do you best to understand the other person, value others, express love for others, work toward recovery of the relationship, remember forgiveness is not just a single transaction, restore the attitude of love, release the painful past, reconstruct the relationship, reopen the future, and reaffirm the relationship. This takes homework, marketplace work, church work, family work. It cannot all happen at the altar. Forgiveness is costly but it pays; it helps us to be better instead of bitter. May God bless you as you walk the journey from the altar and travel the humble road adjusting your will, attitude, and spirit to the point that the experience will involve no longer walking alone. Now two walk together in love and harmony experiencing the bonds of Christ. (Walter Hedstrom)
The secret is God working within you and you working it out in life.
This devotional is taken from the Friday, November 8, 2013 entry of Opening the Word. Order your copy today!