Rich in money, poor in Christ?

RICH IN MONEY, POOR IN CHRIST?

Is that really what we want? It’s always nice to have money, but to be so consumed in it that we lose sight of God is not a good thing, and that kind of money, that love of money, is not what we should strive for. We should always be aware and keep away from things that separate us from God. Money appears to be a big issue as something that separates us from God. In the past, present and future money will always be an issue.

Luke 16:13 “No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will love the one and hate the other. You cannot serve God and money.” WOC (words of Christ)
Also in Matthew 6:24

Luke 16:15 speaking to the Pharisees “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” WOC

As I get older and grow in Christ and with my family, what has become most important to me is not anything of material. My relationship and walk with God, doing his work, my family- the time I spend and the memories we make, the fruits of the spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control which all play a strong part in being a woman and disciple for God. We should have our treasures in heaven and not in things of the world.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroys and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither most nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” WOC

Our treasures in heaven will help us be better disciples for God, not earthly treasures. We can use them to teach others how to walk as we do- towards God, with Christ, and by the Holy Spirit that keeps God alive in us, working through us. The house we live in, the cars that we drive, how often we dye our hair or get a facial- none of these things are important in our walk with God. And our walk with and for God is the only reason we are here. I’m not saying it is bad to have anything of those things but is very bad to put any one of these things before our Lord and King. What matters most in this life and our life after physical death is that we do the work that God put us here to do, that he created us for. Our relationship with our Savior comes before any other. As a daughter, wife, and mother this idea is very hard to accept. It also helps me comprehend the relationship we should have with him- He is our King, Lord and Savior but he is also our maker, friend and teacher. All of these terms help us build a close relationship with Him.

Would you give up your life for him? Would you sacrifice your parents’, siblings’, spouse’s, and child’s life for Him? How far are we really willing to go for Christ?

How much time do you dedicate to him each and every day? Walk with God, walk for God. Let him carry you and work through you to do his will.

Luke 18:22-25 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him (the rich man), “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard this he became very sorrowful because he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Why was the man told to sell all his possessions? He was a very rich man and his value was in the things that he owned; earthly things. His treasures were in his money and possessions more than for God. Money buys worldly, material things and often causes our hearts to fall away from God. Jesus’ point in this parable is to follow God, not money. He wants us to be poor in money, the love of money, and rich in Christ.

The greatest command: Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” WOC
Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind. This is the first and great command. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets.” This is where our treasure should be.

The great commission: Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing the in the name of the Father, son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

To be rich in Christ is what God created us to do.

realization of motherhood

It seems like the end of the world to me but to everyone else it means nothing, they'll never know. Ive recently learned that all the joys I have and the things I experience as a mother is not shared through everyone else. Not everyone gets excited to see all the things I see my daughter do or even just to hear her breathe.

As I watch my daughter play on the floor it occurs to me that I'm the only one that gets excited at every smile, every laugh and every sound she makes. I can stay awake all night just to watch her sleep. When her first tooth came in I was so excited. I called everyone I knew to tell them until I realized- they dont care, or at least as much as I do. I'm the one that sits down to watch her play for hours while everyone watches TV or makes conversation about something else. I take 100 pictures a day (and would print them too if I could afford it) and everyone thinks Im crazy and obsessive. Its not that people don't love her or don't care- but they are simply not her mother. Each mother loves to watch their own child- not always someone else's. I suppose its a mom thing. Motherhood is something that is beyond comprehension to those who dont have children. Its never as exciting to see another child's new experiences as it is to see your own child learn to first roll over, then crawl and then to walk into her room one morning to find her already standing in her crib waiting for you. Now she is 7 months old walking from one barstool to the next in my parents' kitchen, taking her diaper off and drinking the last of her milk from a glass. I look forward to all the new things she will learn and discover in her walk of life, being home with her I can find joy in knowing Im the one who taught it to her.

And then it depresses me to know that every moment is passing by and you can never go back. One day I will be 30...60...90 wondering where the time went ( and thinking "I look so old!")-My daughter will be grown and have her own husband and children. My first 20 years didn't last long and it will seem to pass even quicker through my next 20 and her first 20. Each year that I get older seems to go by quicker than the one before. If only I could pause time for another moment at her current state. Always learning, always becoming more independent, all the while needing me less and less. But I have to look ahead and not let it keep me down, if Im only down for a moment. Each minute I weep about lost time, I lose another minute. I just help her along her journey and know I am doing the best I can to teach her how to become a great woman for Christ. God will help me through my tears so I can enjoy all the great times with my family, and he will carry me in the good times too.