Daily Treasure

“Sell that ye have, and give alms, provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth” (Luke 12:33).

When I think of this verse, I think of our missionaries, especially those serving abroad. They have adapted to living the simple life. Their reward on earth is that they are happy and fulfilled while they do so. They are “laying up their treasures” in Heaven and waiting until they see Jesus for their reward.

We don’t have to take a “vow of poverty” as I read in one commentary. It’s just that if we could live simpler lives and learn to give our excess away to those in need, or to further the gospel, we, too, would find ourselves happy and fulfilled as well.

We live in a materialistic nation where on the news we are constantly hearing about bank and home robberies. Our earthly treasures aren’t always safe and if we have to live in fear they will be taken from us by thieves or perhaps fire or flood; that can only bring us stress and unhappiness.

No one can take or destroy what we store in Heaven. Every investment of our time, talent, and money for God’s glory will not be in vain when we stand before God and we hear those precious words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”(Matthew 25:21a).

PRAY TOGETHER: If every Woman Active for Christ would bring another woman to WAC meetings, we could double WNAC ministries. Pray asking God for this increase.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

This verse is also mentioned in Luke 12:34 so there had to be something significant about it. We are to lay up our treasures in Heaven where nothing can destroy them (Matthew 6:20). It is not to say we shouldn’t plan for our earthly future until the Lord’s coming but that should not be our top priority. Constantly worrying about our finances until His return shows a lack of faith of God’s provision. Carol Reid mentioned this in her “Investing in Eternity” Bible study, “There is only one possession you can take to Heaven with you—your children.” You can leave them an earthly inheritance with your savings or life insurance but what about their “assurance”? Have you made them part of your “treasures in Heaven”? Can they see by your life where your treasures are? Do they see by example that you live by the scripture Matthew 6:33? Or do they and your other loved ones see earthly treasures and possessions as being more important to you?

Examine your heart and priorities and you will find the answer to the words of our devotional title today.

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray and rejoice as Brazil’s Central Minas Gerais FWB churches celebrate 50 years in Barbacena with services in the new Esperance (Hope) FWB Church building.

“And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him:” (Matthew 5:1).

Matthew 5:1 is the opening verse to what we refer to as “The Sermon on the Mount.” Today our scripture is the first verse of the passage that contains the Beatitudes.

I once heard this referred to as the “be happy attitudes.” I like what Carol Reid, the writer of the Bible study “Investing in Eternity,” wrote about the Beatitudes. She mentioned it followed this formula: “blessing, spiritual character trait, and reward.” I don’t know much about investment portfolios because I have limited funds to invest. However, I feel if I follow the formula mentioned within the verses of Matthew 5:1-12, I won’t regret that I wasn’t consumed with financial matters to the point I missed the blessings and rewards I can yield through what I call “a heavenly investment plan.”

I heard a song that contained the words; “I may not have much here, but look what’s waiting for me.” This year marks the fiftieth year of my second birth. God has taken very good care of me through all years in spite of any circumstances I have faced. He provides for my needs, gives me strength for each day, blessings I don’t always feel I deserve, and mercy whenever I fail. I’m thrilled my joy doesn’t depend on stocks, bonds or a big bank account. Many of you, I’m sure, feel the same way. We can make some deposits into the “bank of Heaven,” which we will go further into as the week progresses.

Earthly treasures won’t mean a thing when we leave this world because we can’t take them with us. We can “lay up treasures” in Heaven by investing our time, talent, and means for the salvation of souls. We can be good stewards of our funds by allotting some of them for the furtherance of the gospel at home and abroad. It is sort of like putting our heavenly investments in escrow. We are entrusting them to God until His return where we don’t have to worry whether they are protected by the FDIC.

PRAY TOGETHER: Have you read a good book this year? How about the greatest book? There’s still time. Pray about reading through the Bible in 2008.

“…and she bound the scarlet line in the window” (Joshua 2:21c).

We have a large sliding glass door that I have to clean often because our dogs press their little noses on the window, which makes it quite hard to see through. We have heart windows that get smudged and unclean from the world pressing its nose against them. These are dangerous days of false doctrines flooding our TV, radio and printed page. We need to keep our heart windows clean and clear so we can easily see the blood of Jesus and His message to us. A couple of things that will help us is our daily scripture reading, keeping in close fellowship with our church and denomination, and ask plenty of questions when a cloud of doubt falls around us.

We must keep the scarlet thread that runs through the Bible in clear view in our hearts window.

PRAYER TOGETHER: Local WAC officers need our prayers and encouragement as they lead our groups.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

There is nothing that looks or smells better than fresh clean laundry. I love hanging out sheets and watching them flow back and forth till they were dry. Better than that is to crawl between those sheets at night. There is nothing better to God than a clean heart. Through the blood of Jesus we can keep our hearts clean and our spirit right. Often we forget to ask forgiveness with all the requests and thanksgiving we render to the Lord.

Let us remember to keep our hearts clean before our heavenly Father.

PRAYER TOGETHER: Continue to pray for the Richard Adams family as Richard adjusts to retirement and life without his wife, Carolyn, who died in November 2007.

“And, behold a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at His feet weeping and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment” (Luke 7:37-38).

We see a picture of a sinner woman who came to Jesus, not only to repent but to worship Him with her tears. In her own way she was worshiping and praising God using the best she could offer. From what I have read the box of ointment was costly. Some thought it a waste, but God looked at her heart and the sincerity of her gift. God didn’t rebuke her but was touched by her contrite spirit.

What is in your “alabaster box”? Is it filled with worship, praise, and the best you can offer in service to Him?

PRAY TOGETHER: Please pray for Marjorie Workman as she prepares to lead her final WNAC Convention.

“And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” ( Acts. 2:45).

As the world has changed, so has the church. How different times were when the early church, in spite of persecution, were in one accord. They helped one another any way they could. They sacrificed so their members would not have to do without. I am very fortunate that even though my church is small in number, we have a big heart. There is a special family type bond. We reach out when there’s a need.

We often feel we have little to give or do for others, but the old song reminds us, “Little is Much if God is in It.” We don’t labor for the praise of man but of the One who provides for us. He even provides so we can share with others. Just as I mentioned about the loaves and the fishes, we would be speechless if we could see what God can do when He takes all those “little” things and multiplies them for His glory.

Just as the early church saw a need and worked to fill it, we can apply that same principle today.

PRAY TOGETHER: Prayerfully consider observing WNAC Emphasis month (May) and contributing to the special Mother’s Day Emphasis Offering.