What the Bible teaches… About
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21
Here is what Job said about his great wealth: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.” Job understood that we all enter life with our hands empty, and we all exit life with our hands empty. The only thing we can take with us when we go is what we have sent ahead. Jesus talks about this: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:19-21 NKJV).
When Jesus referred to treasure, His audience would have understood that He was referring to clothing, food, or money. Rich people wore the best clothes, but moths could tear holes in them. Rich people ate the best food, but rats and worms could consume it. Rich people owned silver and gold, but since there were no banks, they stored their money in their houses. But because houses were made of clay, thieves could conveniently reach through the wall and rob it. What Jesus was saying was “Don’t put your treasure where it can be damaged, decayed, or done away with.” A pastor writes: “Jesus doesn’t want your money. It’s already his. Jesus wants your heart. But since your heart always follows your money, he wants you to surrender your money, your wealth, your stuff to him.” When you do that, you’re investing in eternity instead of time.
PRAYER: Dear Lord God, we give thee but thine own, what-e’re the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust , O Lord, from Thee. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN. (LSB 781)
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