HEART’S FOCUS
HEART’S FOCUS
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. —Luke 12:16-34
The rich fool stored up His wealth for himself, but death came and his wealth was left to others. He laid up treasure for himself, but he was not rich toward God. Am I doing the same? Or, am I being rich toward God? Being rich toward God is sharing the wealth He has given us with the needy. So, how rich am I being toward God? How am I helping the needy?
I am not to be anxious about my needs. Instead I am to consider how God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers. He does this every day and am I not more valuable than they He says? I am not to be of little faith, but trust God to provide for my needs. I am not to seek after them as the world does. Instead, I am to seek after God’s kingdom and He will provide for the needs that I have. Am I seeking after His kingdom as first priority? How am I helping the needy?
I have in my possession more that I need. I am not needy, but there are those who are needy. Will I give to them? Am I giving to them? What will I give to them? God has given me stewardship over His riches and will I use them to prepare moneybags that won’t wear out in heaven or focus on earthly treasures that are so temporary? Where truly do I want my treasure— on earth or in heaven? The answer to that will show where my heart’s focus is because “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” So, where truly is my heart’s focus— on earthly things or on heavenly things? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx9-LkuVWt4 How am I helping the needy?
Dear Father may I have the right focus. Please help Elaine and I make heavenly focused decisions with the stewardship You have given us responsibility with. Oh please, may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. Yes, Dear Father may this be to bring honor and glory to You. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ8SAM7lyyM&list=RDcx9-LkuVWt4&index=2