God and money

"You cannot serve God and mammon" (money, material things).

You cannot trust - or live for - God AND stuff. It's one or the other.
Only one thing can hold highest place in our affections.
Here in America, it's easy to give that spot to money, stuff, material things. To build up our retirement accounts, trusting them to care for us in our old age.
To work in order to earn money, so we can have money to "do whatever we want". So we can have security, or so we think.

Why do we have a hard time trusting God with everything, instead of trusting our money?
We think we are wiser than God. That if we really trust God, if we really live as He would have us to live, if we really used our money for the Kingdom instead of as a security blanket - that He would put us in the poorhouse, and we would have no happiness. We think we will be happier with money, than with God. That building up Monopoly money here is worth more than accumulating treasure in Heaven. We trust what we see, because it is now, rather than the God we cannot see, who has promised future things. And who has promised to provide all that we need if we live for the Kingdom first (Matt.6:24,33).

We forget that the One who gave everything to save our souls, does love us here. That if He takes our money, He will give us something better. Is it not the poor who love Him most? It is those who trust Him with everything that find Him to be everything. It is those with little who rejoice most in the God they cannot see. Maybe God would take our money in order to give us Himself. Is that not a better trade?

Our God is in the heavens;
He does all that He pleases...
...trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
The LORD has remembered us; He will bless us...
He will bless those who fear the LORD,
both the small and the great.
(Ps.115:3,11-13, ESV)

from His hand

The grass often seems greener
where other people serve God.
surely they do great things
worthwhile things
but I, I seem to stagnate here
I wonder what will last
of all I do.

Changing diapers
folding clothes
reading books to little ones...
my ever-present fight with clutter,
errands to run
bedtime again -
all seems so mundane
so useless in the scheme of things

... and thinking so
I find that I forgot His ways -
the mystery of how
"little" in the world's eyes
may be "great" in His

forgot that Jesus said
"the Father Himself loves you" -
and when I live in light of that
I see aright again
that every moment comes
from His hand
given in love
for purposes that sometimes
He alone will understand

and if every moment
comes from Him
than I receive it gladly
happy again to be
but an unworthy servant
yet more -
a child of God
loved and precious to Him

we were redeemed
to live "no longer for ourselves
but for Him who died for [us] and rose again"
and this we can do
no matter where He puts us

your life will not be wasted
if you live to serve your King
tending the plot of ground
which He has lent to you

serving His Kingdom
serving His people
loving His people
even by a prayer
an encouragement
a cup of cold water in His name
He does not forget
such "labors of love"
service rendered unto Him
even in some obscure,
unseen place

"if He had asked you to do some great thing,
would you not have done it?
How much more then,
when He asks you to do
something small?"

may I remember
and be reminded
that it is an honor
to serve Him in something small
and to be faithful there

to leave to Him
the arranging of my life
my times
my sorrows and joys
and to receive gladly
every moment
from His loving hand


(Bible verses referred to: John 16:27. 2Corinthians 5:15. Matthew 10:42. Hebrews 6:10. 2Kings 5:13)

stairs

Today while we were outside, Emily climbed our whole flight of steps leading to the front door. As if she had always done that. She's done a step or two here and there, but not that much at once. Steps are so irresistible to babies.

losing your life

In service which Thy will appoints
There are no bonds for me;
My secret heart is taught the truth
That makes Thy children free:
A life of self-renouncing love
Is one of liberty.

In God's paradox, self-denial (serving others rather than yourself) is more satisfying than self-indulgence, and the way to save your life is to lose it. The way to exaltation is humility.

To be like Jesus is to "be a servant to all", which means you don't mind being treated as a servant. Gratification is often delayed, and your reward or recognition may never come until your life is over - until you enter into Real Life, where we will see God's face!

to live is Christ, and to die is gain!

"If anyone would come after me,
let him deny himself
and take up his cross daily
and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."
(Lk.9:23-24, ESV).

(Philippians 2:3-4,14-15; 1:27. Ephesians 4:1-3).