A story has been told that a minister was invited to dinner at the home of a very wealthy man. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area. Pointing to the oil wells covering the landscape, the Texan boasted: “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine.” Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he bragged, “They’re all mine.” Then he turned east toward huge herds of cattle, and bragged, “They’re all mine.” Then pointing to the west at a beautiful forest, he said, “That, too, is all mine.” Then he paused, expecting Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. But Dr. Truett placed one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointed heavenward, toward the sky, and simply asked: “How much do you have in that direction?” To which the man hung his head and said: “I guess I never thought of that.”
In Luke 12:33, 34 Jesus tells his followers: Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The account in Matthew 6:19-21 puts it:: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The emphasis Jesus is making is not that one cannot have earthly treasures but instead that we should not set our priorities on amassing earthly treasures, Instead our goals should be set to attain the streets of gold found in our eternal resting place.
Matthew 6:22, 23 and Luke 11:34-36 tell us about the importance of correct priorities. Jesus tells us that if a man's eyes are filled with good, he is filled with light but if his eyes are blinded, he will be filled with darkness. Jesus is telling us that we should be setting our eyes on eternal things and not the ways of the world.
I find it interesting that America is seen as the great evil in many third world countries. Typically, the people saying these things point to our wealth and our love for wealth as the reason that we should be wiped from this earth. I find that interesting because I have always looked at them as terrorists but I wonder if there is any truth to their base thought. Not that Americans are evil but maybe that the American culture or that part of the culture that strives to amass great wealth is evil. That love for wealth that allows some to create great monuments and structures for themselves.
I wonder how many could be saved if we spent our 40 to 70 hour work weeks praising and honoring God. I wonder how many lost could be reached if our great fortunes were spent in sending out the message. I wonder what our eyes are seeing? I know my eyes have not always focused properly and I will they will lead me in a better direction.
Additional Study: Luke 12:13-21
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