You Should Save Up Your Treasure

                                                                            

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If you've read the Bible much, you'll know that Jesus has been known to made some pretty radical claims.  But just the other day I was listening to a speaker who set me up for a HUGE fall as he taught about Jesus and His view on money.  He noted that Jesus doesn't say, "Don't store up your treasure."  At first, I thought, "Wait, what is going on here?"  Didn't Jesus tell that one young ruler to go and sell all he had, give it to the poor, and THEN to come follow Him (Mark 10:17-31)?  Isn't this the Jesus who commends the woman who gives away her last penny (Luke 21:1-4)?  Yes it is, but look more closely at what Jesus tells His followers.

In Matthew 6:19, Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures...", but then in verse 20 He says, "But store up for yourselves treasures...".

The key difference?  The location of the treasure.

Don't store it up here, but (as Randy Alcorn says) send it ahead.  I've heard it called the ultimate investment plan.  Jesus tells us to invest wisely, not here on earth where it can be stolen or lose value, but invest in eternal treasure which has an eternal return and where it cannot be lost.

Every dollar we spend shows what we think about our true home and whether eternity is real.

Store up treasure...in eternity.

- tC
  

Have A Plan

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If you read the Bible, it's easy to grab a hold of certain verses because they just make sense.  Philippians 4:13 and Luke 1:37 are two popular ones - reminding us that God is able.  As I was thinking about today's post, I thought that Proverbs 15:22 is probably a well-liked verse - "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."  It's true - you seek out wise people, you look to others who know more, and your plans are more likely to work out.  However, I want to just point out the base-level assumption within this verse - the assumption that the individual has a plan of some sort.

In my life, I have found that I have to lean into the sovereignty of God more and more.  As a thinker, planner, and Type-A personality, that can be challenging.  But the more I live, the more I see how small I am in the grand scheme of all things.  However, I also see that I can use the idea of 'leaning into God's sovereignty' as an excuse for having no plan.  On a day when I don't have to work or don't have a ton of goals to accomplish, I an waste the entire day away and then, as I roll into bed at night, I think, "There is a day I can never get back."

My encouragement to you is to to have a plan.  I am of the mindset that we need personal mission statements for our lives overall (of course, written in pencil since yes, He is in charge of all things and can change what my plans might be).  But even in our day-to-day living, we need a plan.  What will I strive toward today for the Kingdom of God?  What will I do to make myself more of an asset to God's work in the world.  Or, as Paul remind us (since it is the ultimate end of all things),"Who might God want me to love today?"

Have a plan.  Write it in pencil, but have a plan.

- tC  

3 Ways to bless your pastor

 

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I cannot tell a lie - part of me is posting this because I want to express the frustration felt by myself and many other pastors as we try to walk the line of humble leadership.  But my own frustrations aside, I truly do believe that these are three ways you can really and truly be a blessing to your pastor.

1. Assume the best.  When something comes up that you find strange or questionable at your local church, assume the best.  Assume that your leaders are making decisions will hearts fully desiring the best for the congregation and for God's glory.  When something strange comes up, don't jump to the assumption that all doctrine has gone out the window and that the church is on the slippery-slope.

2. Ask the source.  If you have found something in, for example, a church communication that you find questionable, first assume the best and then secondly, go to the source.  E-mail your pastor or his administrative assistant with a humble attitude that is seeking clarity, not one that says, "I'm here to straighten you out."  If you have questions, ask the source.

3.  Lastly, don't talk to anyone until you talk to the source.  And I mean that - don't talk to anyone.  Because what happens is that you tell 'just one friend' and then he or she tells...'just one friend', and then next thing you know, there is a rumor weed that is taking over the church body.  Don't share it, just pray about it, and then go to the source.

If you will take these truths to heart, you will be a blessing to the leaders of your church body.
- tC