The psalmist once wrote about the reality of this life. He said that those who are both “high and low, rich and poor” will all face death. This is an inevitable fact. It is appointed once for a person to die and this is an appointment that everyone will keep. Yet, so little emphasis is put on that day. Many consider the temporal things they own greater than their eternal soul. People often value their possessions greater than the intangible blessings of the Lord. This is true for all status; both rich and poor and everyone in-between. All are subject to ignore the day when nothing will matter but their never dying soul.
The people of God are not exempt from these failings. Many are caught up, walking through the emotional landmine of gain and loss, bewildered by the prosperity of wicked men. However, God said: Psa 49:16-17 Do not be in awe when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
Hear the words of Jesus: Mat 6:20-21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The lead indicator of the location of your heart is where your treasure lies.
While we are commanded to be good stewards of what we have; to keep ourselves in subjection through self-constraint and contentment, we also know that our investments must be made for the Kingdom, and that sacrificially. We are blessed when we give and cursed when we withhold. We plant seeds of faith when we make sacrifices and seeds to the flesh when we covet.
In this life we are given the opportunity to be joined to something much greater than ourselves. However, unless we guide our passions and manage our emotions, we will easily miss the moment. Paul wrote: Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Paul was inspired by the Creator to send this most pivotal message to His creation. It is the message of guided affection and purposeful living. “Things above” are more important than anything beneath. The work of the House of God is a weighty matter and that rightly so. We are making commitments today according to His Word, our faith, and the level of our personal harvest. I submit that we seek the Lord and center our lives around the church, the mission, and the salvation of our families. For we know that our heart and our treasure will be known in the day of our appointment.