Thursday, Nov 05, 2009

11-5 Need Security?

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Bribery is dangerous! I held my breath as I pulled up to the house where I pick up Johnny, Ashley and Amberley for Awana. The last few weeks Johnny has not wanted to come because he’s not a running kind of kid and doesn’t want to participate in the games. His niece, Amberley really idolizes him and doesn’t want to do anything Johnny doesn’t. Last week I told them “they needed to participate or no candy on the way home.” That backfired! Amberley left my car crying… YOU HEEL! All week long I prayed about it with concern. To my surprise Amberley not only came, but she came with a good attitude for the first time in weeks and had fun! Whew, thank you Lord, dodged a bullet there!

Today’s thought comes from 1 Peter 1:3-4 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”

How much is enough? A multimillionaire was once asked that question… his answer? “A little more!” Really? You would think that after the jackpot got to a million or so, a person would be satisfied and say… “I think I have enough now, I don’t really need more.” But that’s not the way it works! We want more! Why? Greed is one answer. And don’t forget about Covetousness. There are always bigger boats to buy and more expensive toys to acquire. Another BIG reason is security. How much material stuff like gold, silver, property, stocks and bonds does it take to make us feel secure? The more we accumulate, the more security we need in order to pay the bill collectors and replace the stuff we’ve got. We have a bigger income and BIGGER BILLS! They say that there are three things that drive the stock market: Greed, Hope and Fear. Never underestimate fear. Every investor knows that what goes up can come down 100 times faster than it went up! Eternal nervous vigilance is necessary to protect what you have. If we were honest, we would probably rate insecurity and fear among the top reasons for piling on materialism. When is your bank account big enough? Uh… never? Why do you hold on so tight to every greenback? Fear & Insecurity. Let’s face it, wealth is so tentative, especially in these tough economic times that we may driven to work 90 hours a week, hoard all we can get, and protect our little Fort Knox with an arsenal of highly trained ninja warriors. You won’t see a penny from me until you pull my cold, dead fingers off my safety deposit box! Jesus had a different view. Don’t hoard your treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, instead lay up your treasures in heaven where, as Peter said, we have an “incorruptible inheritance” that is “undefiled and does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” The real answer to security is where you bank! If you depend on your deposits at the Bank of the World, you have reason to be uneasy. There the value of everything depreciates, the shine on our trinkets corrodes, and Identity Theft threatens to transfer all funds to a foreign account. The antidote to insecurity is to open an account in the Bank of Heaven. There your inheritance is safe and secure. There your riches do not depreciate or disappear. There you have “exceeding riches” as your reward. There you can depend on the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. There you have the riches of His glory which supply all your needs. Those riches strengthen the inner man and his inventory is so high the riches are unsearchable. I pray that the eyes of your understanding would be opened that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. Need security? Bank in Heaven.

Today's Reading
2 Chronicles 6; Isaiah 57; Acts 21



Dear Father. I want to find my security in You. I know you are a solid rock that I can depend on. I know that on this earth riches may come and go, but you will never leave me or forsake me. I am depending on a retirement that is out of this world. Help me to place my trust there, not on things that can never bring stability and security.


My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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