Proverbs 23:4-5
Give up trying so hard to get rich. Your money flies away before you know it, just like an eagle suddenly taking off.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About five years ago, we built a house overlooking the Little Red River. We enjoy watching an abundance of wildlife that inhabits the bluffs behind our house, and we are sometimes graced with the sighting of bald eagles. A couple of weeks ago, my husband started out for a walk and spotted two eagles flying up the river toward Greers Ferry Dam. He rushed back home to grab a video camera and returned to the point where he had spotted them. Both had landed in a tree, where they were in the process of eating a fish. One left, but the other continued eating… until the horn at the power house blew, signaling the start of the generators and warning fishermen below of quickly rising waters. The eagle abandoned his fish and flew away.
Generally our eagle sightings are quite brief. Sometimes these majestic birds will roost in a tree below our house for a while. But most often, they are flying by one minute… and totally out of sight the next. The analogy in this passage for how quickly money can disappear is a good one!
Please do not misunderstand me. Money is not bad. There is nothing wrong with working hard and aspiring to be successful. Almost all of us desire to have nice things… to live in a comfortable home, drive a good car, and have plenty of food and clothing. We all like to have a new pair of jeans once in a while… or go out for a delicious steak. Nobody wants to worry about how to pay bills, much less where he/she will find the next meal.
But when we define our lives by our level of wealth, we totally miss the mark. God doesn’t care about the balance in our checkbook. He measures the fullness of our heart. The richest person in the world can sit on his duff, hoard his wealth and never serve God or honor Him. The homeless man on the street who shares his cardboard box and a half a sandwich with someone else – or even a stray dog or cat – has served God better. I have observed people on both sides of this equation, and I can tell you with full confidence that those who serve out of their lack are the richest.
Many people are so focused on reaching the next rung in the ladder… making the big deal… or acquiring more “stuff” that they fail to truly experience the life that God desires for them. All of their “acquisitions” and aspirations can be gone in a day… but the real substance of a life in Christ lasts forever. Most likely you fall somewhere in the middle... not filthy rich (materially or monetarily)- but not homeless and on the street, either. But all of us can be incredibly rich in what matters most… the blessings and glory of God…and our efforts to serve Him according to His desires.
The majestic eagles that soar along the river are not concerned with abundance… yet God meets their every need. They may have to abandon a fish mid-meal, but God will provide another. Shouldn’t we take a page from the eagle’s book? Shouldn’t we work diligently to be all that God desires… in our job, our studies, our church ministries...as neighbors, family members and friends… and trust God to bless our efforts? If God cares so deeply for a mere bird, won’t He surely meet our needs, as well?
Where do you need to shift your focus? Where could you pay more attention to serving with the least of what you have than to obtaining more? If you lost all of your money and material possessions tomorrow, would you still be able to serve God? Would you have the knowledge and wisdom… the faith and confidence in His promises… to move forward? Isn’t it time you started filling your heart with the things that matter… and trusting God to handle the rest? Isn't today a good day to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label wealth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wealth. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 19, 2011
Proverbs 22:1-2
A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
The rich and the poor shake hands as equals— GOD made them both!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I admit it… I watch a lot of reality TV. But my excuse is that I do it “for research.” The truth is that I do learn a lot about human nature from these programs… particularly how ridiculous some people are willing to appear in order to have a few minutes of “fame” and recognition.
At the end of the day, many celebrities and celebrity wannabes come off looking so bad that nobody in their right mind would ever want to imitate them… and few would even want to associate with them – if even casually. Money does not translate into true wealth… and many who would be deemed poor by the standards of our present-day society are some of the richest people on the planet.
I won’t name any names here, but if you and I picture someone who is “rich,” there are a handful of people who come to mind. Their faces are plastered all over the headlines and magazine covers, and many aspire to be just like them. They want the wealth, fame, and recognition… and all of the trappings that go along with it. And “trappings” is a good description, because often, these poor people are trapped by the very things to which they aspired. Their money and notoriety are the things that bring them down, cause troubles and embarrassment, and in some cases… ruin their lives.
Money can be a blessing… but it can also be a curse. If money in your pocket causes you to overspend… become arrogant and ruthless… engage in things you wouldn’t otherwise do, like drinking, drugs, gambling and more… then you are truly anything but rich. If having to pinch pennies causes you to think carefully about how you live… to work hard to pay your bills and take care of your obligations to yourself, your family, and your church… and to focus more on building intangible wealth – relationships, reputation, service… then you are far richer than the man or woman who is at the top of the Forbes list!
My grandmother is one of the richest people I know. She has never had much money… for most of her “senior years,” she has lived on a meager monthly Social Security check – an amount that is probably less than many of you spend each month on clothes and fun activities! Yet she has more people who love her and care about her than anyone else I know. Her needs are always met… and then some. Because she always shared whatever she had with others… time, talents, food, clothing, shelter… and yes, money when she could… she is continually showered with blessings and gifts from those who adore her.
My grandmother’s bank account may be nearly empty, but her “spirit tank” is brimming full. One of her favorite sayings is, “The LORD will take care of me.” She has lived this day in and out… and she has truly trusted Him to do just that. And because of her faith, He has carried her through nearly 99 years. There have been bumps in the road… and there have been days when she wondered how she would pay her bills and put food on the table… but her faith never wavered. And neither should ours. I would stand my grandmother up beside the richest man in the world any day… and in God’s eyes, their value would be the same. Somehow, I think my grandmother’s “net worth” might even be higher, but in the presence of God, all believers are precious and valuable.
Where are you storing your treasure these days? What do you value? Is money and material wealth more important to you than building personal relationships and treating others as God would have you treat them? How are you honoring your responsibility to Him? Are you working hard to pay your bills and live in God’s will… and serving Him out of the abundance and blessings He sends your way? Isn’t it time you began? How rich are you in the eyes of others… and in the eyes of God?
©2011 Debbie Robus
A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
The rich and the poor shake hands as equals— GOD made them both!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I admit it… I watch a lot of reality TV. But my excuse is that I do it “for research.” The truth is that I do learn a lot about human nature from these programs… particularly how ridiculous some people are willing to appear in order to have a few minutes of “fame” and recognition.
At the end of the day, many celebrities and celebrity wannabes come off looking so bad that nobody in their right mind would ever want to imitate them… and few would even want to associate with them – if even casually. Money does not translate into true wealth… and many who would be deemed poor by the standards of our present-day society are some of the richest people on the planet.
I won’t name any names here, but if you and I picture someone who is “rich,” there are a handful of people who come to mind. Their faces are plastered all over the headlines and magazine covers, and many aspire to be just like them. They want the wealth, fame, and recognition… and all of the trappings that go along with it. And “trappings” is a good description, because often, these poor people are trapped by the very things to which they aspired. Their money and notoriety are the things that bring them down, cause troubles and embarrassment, and in some cases… ruin their lives.
Money can be a blessing… but it can also be a curse. If money in your pocket causes you to overspend… become arrogant and ruthless… engage in things you wouldn’t otherwise do, like drinking, drugs, gambling and more… then you are truly anything but rich. If having to pinch pennies causes you to think carefully about how you live… to work hard to pay your bills and take care of your obligations to yourself, your family, and your church… and to focus more on building intangible wealth – relationships, reputation, service… then you are far richer than the man or woman who is at the top of the Forbes list!
My grandmother is one of the richest people I know. She has never had much money… for most of her “senior years,” she has lived on a meager monthly Social Security check – an amount that is probably less than many of you spend each month on clothes and fun activities! Yet she has more people who love her and care about her than anyone else I know. Her needs are always met… and then some. Because she always shared whatever she had with others… time, talents, food, clothing, shelter… and yes, money when she could… she is continually showered with blessings and gifts from those who adore her.
My grandmother’s bank account may be nearly empty, but her “spirit tank” is brimming full. One of her favorite sayings is, “The LORD will take care of me.” She has lived this day in and out… and she has truly trusted Him to do just that. And because of her faith, He has carried her through nearly 99 years. There have been bumps in the road… and there have been days when she wondered how she would pay her bills and put food on the table… but her faith never wavered. And neither should ours. I would stand my grandmother up beside the richest man in the world any day… and in God’s eyes, their value would be the same. Somehow, I think my grandmother’s “net worth” might even be higher, but in the presence of God, all believers are precious and valuable.
Where are you storing your treasure these days? What do you value? Is money and material wealth more important to you than building personal relationships and treating others as God would have you treat them? How are you honoring your responsibility to Him? Are you working hard to pay your bills and live in God’s will… and serving Him out of the abundance and blessings He sends your way? Isn’t it time you began? How rich are you in the eyes of others… and in the eyes of God?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 3, 2011
Proverbs 22:1
A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I could easily name two dozen people who are (or were) both well-recognized and wealthy – and I would get two dozen different impressions of these people. Let me give you a few examples… Elvis Presley, Robert Redford, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Bobby Knight, Ken Hatfield, Billy Graham, Ted Haggard, Donald Trump, and Bill Gates. When you think of each of these people, their reputation comes to mind, doesn’t it?! You may think of how successful – or “powerful” they are (or were)… what they accomplished, and how much money they have made.
But let me ask you a question… do you respect all of these people equally? Have they conducted themselves in the same manner… and with the same integrity? Has money brought them happiness… have they utilized their wealth and “position” well? Now let me ask you another question… in the scheme of things, don’t you know people in your own community or circle of influence who have done as much – or more – with far less? Don’t you know people in your own back yard who you respect far more than any celebrity… and whose reputation is beyond reproach?
Reputation DOES matter. Take some time to think about your own life… and how you believe people see you. When your name is spoken, do others envision someone with integrity… a person worthy of their respect? Do they see a reflection of Jesus in your behavior and accomplishments? Or do they see someone known as a gossip, a party animal (and not in a good sense)… someone with loose morals and poor business practices… someone who drinks too much or spews foul language… someone who neglects their children and family members and blows money at every turn?
Money can buy reputation… but not necessarily a good one. Money cannot buy genuine respect. A close relationship with God… an earnest desire to serve Him and please Him with the gifts and resources He has provided builds the kind of reputation we should hope people will remember. Reputations that are less than stellar can be changed… especially for those who will draw close to God and ask Him to help them accomplish this. It may take time – and it will most certainly take effort – but it can be done.
What sort of reputation do you have? Does your reputation earn you the respect of others… or merely the notoriety that grabs their attention? Are there areas in which you need to improve? Isn’t it time to get started?
©2011 Debbie Robus
A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I could easily name two dozen people who are (or were) both well-recognized and wealthy – and I would get two dozen different impressions of these people. Let me give you a few examples… Elvis Presley, Robert Redford, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Bobby Knight, Ken Hatfield, Billy Graham, Ted Haggard, Donald Trump, and Bill Gates. When you think of each of these people, their reputation comes to mind, doesn’t it?! You may think of how successful – or “powerful” they are (or were)… what they accomplished, and how much money they have made.
But let me ask you a question… do you respect all of these people equally? Have they conducted themselves in the same manner… and with the same integrity? Has money brought them happiness… have they utilized their wealth and “position” well? Now let me ask you another question… in the scheme of things, don’t you know people in your own community or circle of influence who have done as much – or more – with far less? Don’t you know people in your own back yard who you respect far more than any celebrity… and whose reputation is beyond reproach?
Reputation DOES matter. Take some time to think about your own life… and how you believe people see you. When your name is spoken, do others envision someone with integrity… a person worthy of their respect? Do they see a reflection of Jesus in your behavior and accomplishments? Or do they see someone known as a gossip, a party animal (and not in a good sense)… someone with loose morals and poor business practices… someone who drinks too much or spews foul language… someone who neglects their children and family members and blows money at every turn?
Money can buy reputation… but not necessarily a good one. Money cannot buy genuine respect. A close relationship with God… an earnest desire to serve Him and please Him with the gifts and resources He has provided builds the kind of reputation we should hope people will remember. Reputations that are less than stellar can be changed… especially for those who will draw close to God and ask Him to help them accomplish this. It may take time – and it will most certainly take effort – but it can be done.
What sort of reputation do you have? Does your reputation earn you the respect of others… or merely the notoriety that grabs their attention? Are there areas in which you need to improve? Isn’t it time to get started?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 17, 2011
Proverbs 10:22
When the LORD blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy Kodjo Owusu Frim, the little boy in Ghana whom we sponsor through Compassion International often writes that he is praying for us. How humbled I am by this! I recently read that in Ghana, most of the children who get an opportunity to go to school are those sponsored by people like my husband and me. And the schooling is slow… ten and twelve-year-olds are often just completing work in kindergarten and first grade. So when our ten-year-old Kodjo asks me to pray for him as he studies in school and at his church, I am very humbled and honored.
The average income in Kodjo’s village is around $32 a month… the amount my husband and I spend for his monthly sponsorship. We are allowed to send additional monetary gifts for Kodjo’s birthday and at Christmas… but there are dollar limits so that one child does not have more than his/her peers. We can send $25 to buy new clothes, a soccer ball, or a game Kodjo might like – and a little extra at Christmas time. Kodjo tells us that he loves our gifts. He also talks of time spent with family celebrating holidays and seasonal breaks from school, and he appears to feel quite blessed and “rich”, while by the world’s standards, he is living in abject poverty.
Pastor Rick Warren says in The Purpose Driven Life that… “you could reach all of your personal goals, become a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.” This explains why some of the “richest” people in the world are some of those many of us would consider poor.
This is nothing new… the Apostle Paul spent much of his Christian life in prison – often in horrid, unthinkable conditions – and yet he was apparently happily praising God and sharing the Good News of Jesus with others… encouraging them and offering counsel and comfort. Mother Teresa had virtually nothing of her own, yet she devoted her life to giving to others… and apparently felt quite blessed by doing so.
It seems like this is a good time for all of us to take a good look at our lives and see what we value the most. What makes us “rich” – things and money, property and possessions? Or are we rich in relationships… first and foremost with Jesus Christ, and then with others, like family, friends, and members of our community? Are we blessed because of the generosity and love of others… or are we blessed because we are a blessing in Jesus’ name?
When you get to heaven, if all of the “riches” you accumulated were things that you left behind to gather dust or be haggled over by others, you really wasted your time. But if you have a heart filled with blessings… healthy relationships, wise use of your time and money to help others and share the love of Christ, a genuine effort to bless others and be a blessing… you will have no regrets. God will congratulate you on your faithful service, and He will assign you to greater positions than you ever imagined in His kingdom.
I wonder… when I get to heaven, will I be anywhere as rich as Kodjo and others like him? I hope so! I’m asking God to humble me and help me to use the earthly riches with which He entrusts me to make a difference with eternal ramifications, so that I have no regrets when I meet Him in person. Are you willing to do the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
When the LORD blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy Kodjo Owusu Frim, the little boy in Ghana whom we sponsor through Compassion International often writes that he is praying for us. How humbled I am by this! I recently read that in Ghana, most of the children who get an opportunity to go to school are those sponsored by people like my husband and me. And the schooling is slow… ten and twelve-year-olds are often just completing work in kindergarten and first grade. So when our ten-year-old Kodjo asks me to pray for him as he studies in school and at his church, I am very humbled and honored.
The average income in Kodjo’s village is around $32 a month… the amount my husband and I spend for his monthly sponsorship. We are allowed to send additional monetary gifts for Kodjo’s birthday and at Christmas… but there are dollar limits so that one child does not have more than his/her peers. We can send $25 to buy new clothes, a soccer ball, or a game Kodjo might like – and a little extra at Christmas time. Kodjo tells us that he loves our gifts. He also talks of time spent with family celebrating holidays and seasonal breaks from school, and he appears to feel quite blessed and “rich”, while by the world’s standards, he is living in abject poverty.
Pastor Rick Warren says in The Purpose Driven Life that… “you could reach all of your personal goals, become a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.” This explains why some of the “richest” people in the world are some of those many of us would consider poor.
This is nothing new… the Apostle Paul spent much of his Christian life in prison – often in horrid, unthinkable conditions – and yet he was apparently happily praising God and sharing the Good News of Jesus with others… encouraging them and offering counsel and comfort. Mother Teresa had virtually nothing of her own, yet she devoted her life to giving to others… and apparently felt quite blessed by doing so.
It seems like this is a good time for all of us to take a good look at our lives and see what we value the most. What makes us “rich” – things and money, property and possessions? Or are we rich in relationships… first and foremost with Jesus Christ, and then with others, like family, friends, and members of our community? Are we blessed because of the generosity and love of others… or are we blessed because we are a blessing in Jesus’ name?
When you get to heaven, if all of the “riches” you accumulated were things that you left behind to gather dust or be haggled over by others, you really wasted your time. But if you have a heart filled with blessings… healthy relationships, wise use of your time and money to help others and share the love of Christ, a genuine effort to bless others and be a blessing… you will have no regrets. God will congratulate you on your faithful service, and He will assign you to greater positions than you ever imagined in His kingdom.
I wonder… when I get to heaven, will I be anywhere as rich as Kodjo and others like him? I hope so! I’m asking God to humble me and help me to use the earthly riches with which He entrusts me to make a difference with eternal ramifications, so that I have no regrets when I meet Him in person. Are you willing to do the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2011
Psalm 49:16-20
So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, they enter the family burial plot, where they'll never see sunshine again.
We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
All my life I have heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you.” When I was a teenager, my dad was a funeral director, and I heard him talk often about this. At the end of the day, the poor farmer who toiled all his life just to put food on the table was buried pretty much the same way as the rich man who couldn’t begin to count all of his money. Outwardly, what we accumulate or become in this life really won’t matter in the end. But what we have in our heart makes all the difference.
In The Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren says, “God watches how we use money to see how trustworthy we are.” Citing Luke 16:11, Pastor Warren says, “… there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my Spiritual life.” So does this mean that we can’t have nice clothes or drive a nice car… that we should give that money to missions instead? Not at all.
God does not mind that we have nice things, if we can afford them. In fact, when we get to heaven, our streets will be paved with gold… and that’s the tip of the iceberg! The problem is how we act with money… and how we react to it. If money and the things we buy with it is all we think about, we are not putting God’s priorities first in our life. If we wait more impatiently for the newest release of the iPad or iPhone, the latest sneaker from our favorite athlete or the next album from our favorite entertainer to be released than we do for our next opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone else or a chance to learn more about Jesus, we’ve got some work to do.
If we think more about money and “things” than we do about Jesus and ways to worship Him, serve Him, and grown in His wisdom and love… God can’t trust us to manage the blessings (and Spiritual wealth) He wants to give us. Luke 16:11 says (paraphrased) that if God can’t trust us with earthly wealth… what Luke calls “wicked wealth” – how will He be able to trust us with true wealth – the wealth of a life lived in and for Him? If we work night and day on this earth for the almighty dollar more than Almighty God, we have totally missed our purpose.
It’s all about priorities. Many “rich” people have done amazing things with their earthly wealth. Many “poor” people have done as much – or more. Search your heart – and your motives. See what drives you these days. What are your goals for the future… to acquire more wealth and earthly “success” – or to “store up treasure for heaven?” See where you need to adjust your focus and concentrate on what you can take with you into Eternity. Ask God to help you adjust your attitude and start using what you have to accumulate “wealth” that really matters.
©2011 Debbie Robus
So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, they enter the family burial plot, where they'll never see sunshine again.
We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
All my life I have heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you.” When I was a teenager, my dad was a funeral director, and I heard him talk often about this. At the end of the day, the poor farmer who toiled all his life just to put food on the table was buried pretty much the same way as the rich man who couldn’t begin to count all of his money. Outwardly, what we accumulate or become in this life really won’t matter in the end. But what we have in our heart makes all the difference.
In The Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren says, “God watches how we use money to see how trustworthy we are.” Citing Luke 16:11, Pastor Warren says, “… there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my Spiritual life.” So does this mean that we can’t have nice clothes or drive a nice car… that we should give that money to missions instead? Not at all.
God does not mind that we have nice things, if we can afford them. In fact, when we get to heaven, our streets will be paved with gold… and that’s the tip of the iceberg! The problem is how we act with money… and how we react to it. If money and the things we buy with it is all we think about, we are not putting God’s priorities first in our life. If we wait more impatiently for the newest release of the iPad or iPhone, the latest sneaker from our favorite athlete or the next album from our favorite entertainer to be released than we do for our next opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone else or a chance to learn more about Jesus, we’ve got some work to do.
If we think more about money and “things” than we do about Jesus and ways to worship Him, serve Him, and grown in His wisdom and love… God can’t trust us to manage the blessings (and Spiritual wealth) He wants to give us. Luke 16:11 says (paraphrased) that if God can’t trust us with earthly wealth… what Luke calls “wicked wealth” – how will He be able to trust us with true wealth – the wealth of a life lived in and for Him? If we work night and day on this earth for the almighty dollar more than Almighty God, we have totally missed our purpose.
It’s all about priorities. Many “rich” people have done amazing things with their earthly wealth. Many “poor” people have done as much – or more. Search your heart – and your motives. See what drives you these days. What are your goals for the future… to acquire more wealth and earthly “success” – or to “store up treasure for heaven?” See where you need to adjust your focus and concentrate on what you can take with you into Eternity. Ask God to help you adjust your attitude and start using what you have to accumulate “wealth” that really matters.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 31, 2011
Matthew 6:19-21
Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We have begun sorting my grandmother’s clothes in preparation for her move to an assisted living facility… hopefully within the next week or so. My grandmother’s house is very small… but like most people, she has made very good use of her space! I remarked after paring down the clothing in three closets to one that “Mam-ma has more clothes than I have… and I have too many!” The interesting thing was how many of these items of clothing I have never seen her wear. She has beautiful suits… nice matching outfits that have a jacket, pants and a blouse… probably a dozen coats… and much more.
Several items of clothing looked as if they had never been worn… and truly, they might have been worn two or three times. Again, like many of us, my grandmother wears a few items of clothing over and over again. She has “good clothes” and “everyday clothes”… “work clothes” and “clothes I wear to the beauty shop” (clothing that can get wet or survive a hair product spill). She has her “regular pajamas,” and her pajamas she keeps tucked away in a drawer… “in case I have to go to the hospital.”
As we sorted, she mumbled to me that she hated to wear such nice things at the assisted living facility. I laughed and said, somewhat sarcastically, “Are you afraid you will be putting on airs or something?” She retorted, “Well, yes!” I assured her she would be just fine, and now was the time to be wearing her nicer things. As my cousin put it later… “This is her time to shine!”
For the record, my grandmother is not a materialistic person. Many of the beautiful clothing pieces she has were given to her as Christmas and birthday gifts or as a treat from some cousins who visit and always take her shopping. She is one of the most frugal… and generous… people I know. But we all know people who spend hours and days and weeks searching for just the right outfit… those who have to have the newest sneakers or the latest gadget. We know people who get on a waiting list for the next best electronic or computerized thing to come down the pike… tossing aside what they already own like yesterday’s garbage.
The more I go to estate auctions and sales… and yes, sort through my grandmother’s belongings… the more I am struck by how “it’s all just stuff.” Remember, everything my grandmother owned burned to the ground in 1981. She has accumulated everything she now has in the last thirty years. Think of those who have been amassing “stuff” for a lifetime that spans a half dozen decades or more! Hopefully, they are like my grandmother and realize that all of it can vaporize in a matter of minutes. Hopefully, we are learning that what matters is accumulating blessings, time spent serving God, good friends, loving our family and those around us, and truly building a reserve of “Disciple moments”.
There is nothing wrong with having nice things. There is no shame in dressing well or enjoying the latest computer gadget. But when we put these things ahead of our work for the Kingdom of God… when we value tangible things more than relationships with Him and His children…we’re in serious trouble. What we value really does speak about our heart. What do you value? Where is your heart? Are you packing away “stuff” in your closets and drawers for a “special occasion?” Or are you “wearing your good clothes” today as you serve God with your very best?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We have begun sorting my grandmother’s clothes in preparation for her move to an assisted living facility… hopefully within the next week or so. My grandmother’s house is very small… but like most people, she has made very good use of her space! I remarked after paring down the clothing in three closets to one that “Mam-ma has more clothes than I have… and I have too many!” The interesting thing was how many of these items of clothing I have never seen her wear. She has beautiful suits… nice matching outfits that have a jacket, pants and a blouse… probably a dozen coats… and much more.
Several items of clothing looked as if they had never been worn… and truly, they might have been worn two or three times. Again, like many of us, my grandmother wears a few items of clothing over and over again. She has “good clothes” and “everyday clothes”… “work clothes” and “clothes I wear to the beauty shop” (clothing that can get wet or survive a hair product spill). She has her “regular pajamas,” and her pajamas she keeps tucked away in a drawer… “in case I have to go to the hospital.”
As we sorted, she mumbled to me that she hated to wear such nice things at the assisted living facility. I laughed and said, somewhat sarcastically, “Are you afraid you will be putting on airs or something?” She retorted, “Well, yes!” I assured her she would be just fine, and now was the time to be wearing her nicer things. As my cousin put it later… “This is her time to shine!”
For the record, my grandmother is not a materialistic person. Many of the beautiful clothing pieces she has were given to her as Christmas and birthday gifts or as a treat from some cousins who visit and always take her shopping. She is one of the most frugal… and generous… people I know. But we all know people who spend hours and days and weeks searching for just the right outfit… those who have to have the newest sneakers or the latest gadget. We know people who get on a waiting list for the next best electronic or computerized thing to come down the pike… tossing aside what they already own like yesterday’s garbage.
The more I go to estate auctions and sales… and yes, sort through my grandmother’s belongings… the more I am struck by how “it’s all just stuff.” Remember, everything my grandmother owned burned to the ground in 1981. She has accumulated everything she now has in the last thirty years. Think of those who have been amassing “stuff” for a lifetime that spans a half dozen decades or more! Hopefully, they are like my grandmother and realize that all of it can vaporize in a matter of minutes. Hopefully, we are learning that what matters is accumulating blessings, time spent serving God, good friends, loving our family and those around us, and truly building a reserve of “Disciple moments”.
There is nothing wrong with having nice things. There is no shame in dressing well or enjoying the latest computer gadget. But when we put these things ahead of our work for the Kingdom of God… when we value tangible things more than relationships with Him and His children…we’re in serious trouble. What we value really does speak about our heart. What do you value? Where is your heart? Are you packing away “stuff” in your closets and drawers for a “special occasion?” Or are you “wearing your good clothes” today as you serve God with your very best?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 13, 2010
April 13 ~ Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
If you love money and wealth, you will never be satisfied with what you have. This doesn't make sense, either. The more you have, the more everyone expects from you. Your money won't do you any good - others will just spend it for you. If you have to work hard for a living, you can rest well at night, even if you don't have much to eat. But if you are rich, you can't even sleep.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the best new shows on television is CBS’s “Undercover Boss.” Chief Executive Officers of major corporations put on disguises and “go undercover” to see what really is happening in the workplace in their businesses. In every episode, the executives have lived what would be considered “wealthy” lifestyles… big homes, nice cars, fancy suits and more. For one week, they exchange all of this for more “common” clothing, stay in low-budget motels and eat TV dinners, and work alongside the ordinary workers. These CEO’s have done everything from clean port-a-potties and pick up trash to washing streets at a theme park to waiting tables, and cleaning out sewer lines for Roto Rooter.
Without exception, each CEO has encountered people who were doing difficult – and sometimes nasty – jobs… and doing them with a smile and a genuine desire to be the best they possibly could at doing their job. They encountered single parents who could barely make ends meet – and some who were behind on mortgages. They met students who could not afford to go to college and were happily working at a menial job for meager wages. They met fathers who were working long hours and nights and weekends to support their children. They met a lot of “unwealthy” people who were enthusiastically working in their companies – and often at jobs the CEO’s were totally incapable of performing…much less with a smile.
The CEO’s all came away with a realization that their concept of “wealth” was skewed at best. They realized that what makes one happy is not a lot of money or a top-level position. And that’s the point of this scripture passage.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying you shouldn’t work hard – or that it is a wrong or sinful to be wealthy. Plenty of wealthy people have used their money to help others, support worthy causes, and further God’s kingdom. But wanting that new pair of Nikes for basketball and having to worry about leaving them in your locker during class may not be worth it. Do you really need a new phone when yours is perfectly good? Will another 1000 square feet of house and a couple of extra acres be worth the extra time and energy required for cleaning and maintenance? Why are you really getting a new car?
The bottom line is that having more “things” and more money may not make you happier – and it certainly won’t make you more of a Christian! Even if you give much of your wealth to charity, you need to be sure that your motives line up with God’s will. Does God want you to spend your time and energy gaining more money and “stuff?” Or does He want you to be happy where you are and spend more time serving Him and learning more about His will for your life?
On “Undercover Boss,” many of these employees whom the CEO’s encountered were given promotions, money to help pay their debts, raises in pay, and more. But this didn’t necessarily make them happier or more productive. They already seemed to have their priorities straight. What about you? Where are your priorities? What are you working to achieve… joy, contentment, and a Christ-centered life? Or are you chasing the wealth at the end of the rainbow? How well are you sleeping at night? What truly makes you rich these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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