Tuesday, May 01, 2012

INDIFFERENCE TO EARTHLY THINGS 5/1/2012


“You cannot labor for heavenly possessions if your hands and heart are loaded down with earthly pursuits.
The Christian must practice the same indifference in keeping his earthly possessions as he did in getting them. God never signs the title of anything over to us, but merely gives us things to keep in trust. All will be left behind when He calls us home. If He sees fit to let us keep them until then, we bless and thank Him for His generosity; and if He takes them away sooner, we bless Him still.
God never intended, by His providence in bringing Moses to Pharaohs' court, to leave him there in worldly pomp and grandeur. A carnal heart would have reasoned Moses could best help his people-- slaves under Pharaoh-- by using his position and power to influence the king, or perhaps even by aspiring to the throne. But when Moses renounced his place of privilege, his faith and self-denial were made more eminently conspicuous. It is for this obedient faith that Moses is given such honorable mention in the New Testament Hebrews 11:24-25.
Sometimes God lavishes us with things, not so we can hang on to them, but so we will have something to let go of to show our love for Him. Was there anything better in the whole world Mary could have done with her precious oil than to anoint her Lord? What enterprise will pay more lasting dividends than to invest what you possess in the cause of Christ?
Christian, keep a loose grip on the material possessions you value most highly. Be ready at a moment's notice to throw them overboard, rather than risk the shipwreck of your faith. You cannot labor for heavenly possessions if your hands and heart are loaded down with earthly pursuits. In the end, if you can save anything, it will be your soul, your interest in Christ and heaven. If you should lose all your worldly goods, you should still be able to say with Jacob, "I have enough [all things]" Genesis 33:11.
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

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