Post by Cindy on Feb 22, 2016 13:13:59 GMT -5
We often tend to separate material from the spiritual, but in God's reality they can't be separated. Everything we do, every single part of our lives, every decision we make, has a bearing on our eternal lives. It's pretty mind boggling when you think of it that way isn't it? Jesus tells us:
““Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? “No servant 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.”” (Luke 16:10–13)
At 60 years old, I can look back at my life and see how every decision I made from childhood on, has affected my life here and now. Being a Christian, I now also know that those decisions, as well as every one I make from here on out, will also affect my eternal life, either for good or bad. Most of us tend to be very concerned about what's in our bank accounts and if we'll be able to pay our bills or have enough money to get what we want, or how long it will take us to save for what we want. We're all used to hearing people say that we can't take it with us, as though money and material things don't count for anything, so enjoy them now and don't worry about later. But that's not the attitude Jesus wants us to have. He tells us to be concerned about our Heavenly bank account and how much we're depositing in it each day. We tend not to pay much attention to that though because there's nothing we can see; we don't get a bank statement each month from the New Jerusalem Bank of God.
I've been paying more and more attention to this lately though, and don't intend to ever stop. We know that if we're saved, we are going to spend eternity with our Lord. He also tells us though, that our eternal lives will reflect what we did and how we lived this life. He will reward us according to what we've done and said. He warns us of that, over and over again. I have a feeling that He means us to pay attention to it! We are either making a deposit into our heavenly account or withdrawing from it with everything we do and say every single day. We belong to God, our lives aren't our own, so everything we do and say should reflect His ownership of us. We should be using our time, talent, or money, and our material possessions for Him and for His honor and glory. When we do, it's like a deposit into our account. When we don't, it's like a withdrawal.
That's pretty mind boggling isn't it? Everything we do and say in this life is important and will make a difference in our eternal life. For me, that means I'm much more interested in what's in my heavenly account then my earthly one. From this moment on, I want to be reminding myself regularly that what I say and do matters. It matters to God because He wants me to have everything He can give me, not just some of it. So, when I do the dishes, I'll be washing them for Him and His glory. I'll do my best because He deserves the best. Same with cleaning the house or any other chore I need to do. When someone speaks to me, no matter what their words are, I'll listen, because that's what He'd want me to do. And then, when I reply, I'll do so with love and kindness, because that will honor Him and anything less won't. I'll pray for those He brings to my mind, for that's one of the jobs He's given me, and when He gives me an opportunity, I'll tell others about Him. I'll pay my bills on time as that too brings Honor to Him. I'll obey the laws for the same reason. If there's any way I can further His Kingdom, I want to do it. I want everything I do and say to be done and said for Him, and to bring Him the honor He's due. Not because He's going to reward me, but simply because I love Him and fear Him and that's what He's told us to do.
““Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12)
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”” (Luke 14:13–14)
“The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” (1 Corinthians 3:8)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)
“God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”” (Romans 2:6)
“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” (Matthew 12:36)
““Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? “No servant 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.”” (Luke 16:10–13)
At 60 years old, I can look back at my life and see how every decision I made from childhood on, has affected my life here and now. Being a Christian, I now also know that those decisions, as well as every one I make from here on out, will also affect my eternal life, either for good or bad. Most of us tend to be very concerned about what's in our bank accounts and if we'll be able to pay our bills or have enough money to get what we want, or how long it will take us to save for what we want. We're all used to hearing people say that we can't take it with us, as though money and material things don't count for anything, so enjoy them now and don't worry about later. But that's not the attitude Jesus wants us to have. He tells us to be concerned about our Heavenly bank account and how much we're depositing in it each day. We tend not to pay much attention to that though because there's nothing we can see; we don't get a bank statement each month from the New Jerusalem Bank of God.
I've been paying more and more attention to this lately though, and don't intend to ever stop. We know that if we're saved, we are going to spend eternity with our Lord. He also tells us though, that our eternal lives will reflect what we did and how we lived this life. He will reward us according to what we've done and said. He warns us of that, over and over again. I have a feeling that He means us to pay attention to it! We are either making a deposit into our heavenly account or withdrawing from it with everything we do and say every single day. We belong to God, our lives aren't our own, so everything we do and say should reflect His ownership of us. We should be using our time, talent, or money, and our material possessions for Him and for His honor and glory. When we do, it's like a deposit into our account. When we don't, it's like a withdrawal.
That's pretty mind boggling isn't it? Everything we do and say in this life is important and will make a difference in our eternal life. For me, that means I'm much more interested in what's in my heavenly account then my earthly one. From this moment on, I want to be reminding myself regularly that what I say and do matters. It matters to God because He wants me to have everything He can give me, not just some of it. So, when I do the dishes, I'll be washing them for Him and His glory. I'll do my best because He deserves the best. Same with cleaning the house or any other chore I need to do. When someone speaks to me, no matter what their words are, I'll listen, because that's what He'd want me to do. And then, when I reply, I'll do so with love and kindness, because that will honor Him and anything less won't. I'll pray for those He brings to my mind, for that's one of the jobs He's given me, and when He gives me an opportunity, I'll tell others about Him. I'll pay my bills on time as that too brings Honor to Him. I'll obey the laws for the same reason. If there's any way I can further His Kingdom, I want to do it. I want everything I do and say to be done and said for Him, and to bring Him the honor He's due. Not because He's going to reward me, but simply because I love Him and fear Him and that's what He's told us to do.
““Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12)
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”” (Luke 14:13–14)
“The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” (1 Corinthians 3:8)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)
“God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”” (Romans 2:6)
“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” (Matthew 12:36)
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