EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH IS TRUE WEALTH
One of the most well known statements Jesus made is, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money"(Matthew 6:21-24).
AW Tozer had some insightful questions to help us uncover our true treasure:
1) What do you value most?
2) What would you most hate to lose?
3) What do you most frequently think of?
4) What gives you your greatest pleasure?
In light of the rapidly coming holiday season, perhaps before we arrive it is important to consider Jesus' words and Tozer's questions. Here is something to consider about financial wealth: if you live in a household that makes $40,000 or more you are in the top 1% of the highest incomes in the world. If your household takes in at least $25,000, then you are in the top 2%. Probability suggests that if you are reading this article, you are one of the wealthiest people on the planet.
Yet as most of us have discovered, there is little correlation between happiness and the amount of money one makes. However, in a culture that often teaches that we need to constantly upgrade our lifestyles, a little perspective may be useful. Maybe this year when Madison Avenue tells us we don't have enough, we can instead recognize our true state of abundance and realize where our true treasure lies.
In the United States 40 billion mail order catalogues are mailed per year. Following is a breakdown of annual spending in America:
$110 billion on fast food
$85 billion on lawn and gardens
$64 billion on soft drinks
$38 billion on state lotteries
$36 billion on vending machine products
$24 billion on jewelry
$23 billion on toys
$20 billion on cosmetics
$13 billion on chocolate
$7 billion on greeting cards
None of this is to put a guilt trip on anyone, but to hopefully cause us to stop and consider what we are doing with what we have been given. We live in a culture with unprecedented affluence, yet chronic discontent and a giving disorder.
Randy Alcorn shares that, "You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead." Regardless of whether or not you agree with Alcorn's theology, his point is worth considering, in that while we are in this life we are called to use our resources to help others.
Diagnosed with a fatal illness, Leona Bryant shared, "The most striking thing that has happened is that I find myself totally uninterested in all the conversations about material things. Things used to matter to me, but now I find my thoughts are never on possessions, but always on Christ and people. I consider it a privilege that I can live each day, knowing I will soon die. What a difference it makes."
Jesus states; "If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" (Luke 16:11-12). It is clear that "true riches" are not about finances, but about God expanding our influence as we are found faithful in the little things. Henry Blackaby notes, that "Too much is at stake for God to entrust eternal matters and consequences to an immature person of faith." May we stop and consider our treasure and our financial habits, and show that we are someone who can be trusted with more.
Tobin Crenshaw
Twominutesermon.com
AW Tozer had some insightful questions to help us uncover our true treasure:
1) What do you value most?
2) What would you most hate to lose?
3) What do you most frequently think of?
4) What gives you your greatest pleasure?
In light of the rapidly coming holiday season, perhaps before we arrive it is important to consider Jesus' words and Tozer's questions. Here is something to consider about financial wealth: if you live in a household that makes $40,000 or more you are in the top 1% of the highest incomes in the world. If your household takes in at least $25,000, then you are in the top 2%. Probability suggests that if you are reading this article, you are one of the wealthiest people on the planet.
Yet as most of us have discovered, there is little correlation between happiness and the amount of money one makes. However, in a culture that often teaches that we need to constantly upgrade our lifestyles, a little perspective may be useful. Maybe this year when Madison Avenue tells us we don't have enough, we can instead recognize our true state of abundance and realize where our true treasure lies.
In the United States 40 billion mail order catalogues are mailed per year. Following is a breakdown of annual spending in America:
$110 billion on fast food
$85 billion on lawn and gardens
$64 billion on soft drinks
$38 billion on state lotteries
$36 billion on vending machine products
$24 billion on jewelry
$23 billion on toys
$20 billion on cosmetics
$13 billion on chocolate
$7 billion on greeting cards
None of this is to put a guilt trip on anyone, but to hopefully cause us to stop and consider what we are doing with what we have been given. We live in a culture with unprecedented affluence, yet chronic discontent and a giving disorder.
Randy Alcorn shares that, "You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead." Regardless of whether or not you agree with Alcorn's theology, his point is worth considering, in that while we are in this life we are called to use our resources to help others.
Diagnosed with a fatal illness, Leona Bryant shared, "The most striking thing that has happened is that I find myself totally uninterested in all the conversations about material things. Things used to matter to me, but now I find my thoughts are never on possessions, but always on Christ and people. I consider it a privilege that I can live each day, knowing I will soon die. What a difference it makes."
Jesus states; "If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" (Luke 16:11-12). It is clear that "true riches" are not about finances, but about God expanding our influence as we are found faithful in the little things. Henry Blackaby notes, that "Too much is at stake for God to entrust eternal matters and consequences to an immature person of faith." May we stop and consider our treasure and our financial habits, and show that we are someone who can be trusted with more.
Tobin Crenshaw
Twominutesermon.com
