DAY 257 Read Haggai; Zechariah 1 through 4.
Today's reading: The book of Haggai tells plainly God's message to the discouraged builders in Jerusalem. Zechariah contains more obscure symbolism.
Memory gem: "Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:4).
Thought for today:
What is our main object in life? What is the goal that we are trying to reach? Where does all of our interest lie? The most important thing in this world is not a fat bank account, large real estate holdings, or great material wealth, but being right with God and being prepared for eternity.
The Christian life is one of stewardship; for, after all, everything belongs to God. We read in Psalm 24:1: "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
But God has entrusted to us that which is His, and He expects us to deal with Him as faithful stewards. He is the One who gives us power to gain wealth, as we read in Deuteronomy 8:11, 17, 18.
Those who realize God's ownership and His divine sovereignty, return to their Maker one tenth of their increase in recognition of His ownership. This unselfish relationship with God reveals the heart of a true partner, one who is really a laborer together with God (see 1 Corinthians 3:9).
Please don't misunderstand me. The possession of goods or of wealth is not in itself a sin. It is "the love of money" which "is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). In a fully surrendered life, lucre is no longer king.
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, one verse in every six deals with the money question, so it must be an important item in a person's life. Sixteen of the twenty-nine parables narrated by Christ had to do with money. He does not ask how much we have, but what we are doing with what we have. He came to lift us out of our selfishness and guide our steps along the path of faith to the mount of blessing and eternal life. So, really, money is not everything. Christ is!
Today's reading: The book of Haggai tells plainly God's message to the discouraged builders in Jerusalem. Zechariah contains more obscure symbolism.
Memory gem: "Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:4).
Thought for today:
What is our main object in life? What is the goal that we are trying to reach? Where does all of our interest lie? The most important thing in this world is not a fat bank account, large real estate holdings, or great material wealth, but being right with God and being prepared for eternity.
The Christian life is one of stewardship; for, after all, everything belongs to God. We read in Psalm 24:1: "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
But God has entrusted to us that which is His, and He expects us to deal with Him as faithful stewards. He is the One who gives us power to gain wealth, as we read in Deuteronomy 8:11, 17, 18.
Those who realize God's ownership and His divine sovereignty, return to their Maker one tenth of their increase in recognition of His ownership. This unselfish relationship with God reveals the heart of a true partner, one who is really a laborer together with God (see 1 Corinthians 3:9).
Please don't misunderstand me. The possession of goods or of wealth is not in itself a sin. It is "the love of money" which "is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). In a fully surrendered life, lucre is no longer king.
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, one verse in every six deals with the money question, so it must be an important item in a person's life. Sixteen of the twenty-nine parables narrated by Christ had to do with money. He does not ask how much we have, but what we are doing with what we have. He came to lift us out of our selfishness and guide our steps along the path of faith to the mount of blessing and eternal life. So, really, money is not everything. Christ is!
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