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Read Matthew 3:11-17
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased" (v. 17).
On June 21, 1982, the announcement was made in London, England that a new prince, William, had been born into the royal family. As the son of the heir-apparent to the throne of England, he was and is now in line to rule as the monarch of Great Britain. Undoubtedly, this announcement was a source of joy to all of the loyal subjects who are a part of the British Commonwealth of nations.
Whether William will ever actually rule or not is unknown. There are many things that could happen to him personally or to the country over which he would reign. Even if he should, he will be but one more in a long line of kings and queens who have come and gone throughout the world's history.
"There is another king, one Jesus" (Acts 17:7) whose person and kingdom infinitely overshadow any and all earthly monarchs. His kingdom encompasses the entire world, is founded not on brute power but rather on passionate love. It is a spiritual kingdom that will transition into a literal one. And it is a kingdom that will never end! This is so because He is the eternal God who was and is and is to come, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Mike R Williams)
The world's final Ruler is coming.
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Read Ezekiel 33:30-33
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness" (v. 31).
Covetousness might be called "the sin that is most ignored." The tenth commandment is the one that is normally skipped in discussions. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said of the thousands he had seen saved, he never heard someone say they were saved from the sin of covetousness. LaSalle was a famous priest of the Middle Ages, and he said this sin was never confessed to him.
There is an old Jewish saying that we are born into this world with hands grasping after everything we can obtain, but when we die our hands are wide open and nothing in them. This is the problem of covetousness.
A story is told of a peasant who murmured to a giant landholder of the unfairness of it all. Knowing the nature of men, the landholder promised to give the peasant all the land he could walk around in a whole day. The peasant, greedily trying to take in all the area possible, overexerted himself and dropped with a heart attack and died. He ended up with nothing.
Covetousness is a debasing sin - it will turn you into less than you can be (1 Timothy 6:9-10). It is a deceiving sin - usually the covetous person does not recognize the problem (1 Thessalonians 2:5). It is a damning sin - one to take seriously (Ephesians 5:5). (L. Gayle Woods)
Do not ignore this sin; with God's grace, overcome it.
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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.
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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.