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Here is the message from today.

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Here are some of the Scripture verses, quotes, and a few of my thoughts.

Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. -Matthew 6:19

It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Henry David Thoreau

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. -Matthew 6:20

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. -Matthew 6:21

Jesus never said that this world is unimportant. What is says is this:

When we put most of our thoughts, time, energy, and resources and when we set our hearts on the things of the earth., then we have little interest in anything beyond this world. That makes it very difficult to die.

When our thoughts, time, energy, and resources are on loving God and loving those God loves, the end of life is a time of gladness because at last we get to see God face to face.

Two ways we see the world:

1. World = Paradise
2. World = Preparing for paradise

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. -Mathew 6:24

The biggest competition God has in the world is money

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:14-15

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. -1 Timothy 6:10

What we try to do in life is fill our hearts with attachments and possessions and power and things. And our hearts remain empty because there is a place in our heart that can only be filled by the love of God.

Hear this:

I want to be clear…

Having wealth and money and stuff and things and possessions is not a sin; it is a responsibility.

Challenge:

Material wealth is not a sin; it is a responsibility.
It is not a matter for congratulations; it is a matter of prayer that we would use our wealth as God would have us do.

A lesson I have learned in life:

There are people who use up their entire lives making money so they can enjoy the lives they have entirely used up.

What I’m saying is that when we use all our time, energy, talents making and storing money – we are missing the point of life.

Life is about

Loving and being loved
Serving
Laughing
Giving
Praying
Worshipping
Caring
Sharing

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit. -Elton Trueblood