A Little Good News: Working Together

This morning, I searched my brain for a blog topic and came up empty. Maybe some "good news" would be a good topic, I thought, so I scoured the internet. In case you're wondering, some of the things that pass for good news are just pitiful. 

As you probably know, the city of Flint, Michigan changed their water source from Lake Huron treated water to water from the Flint River. The pipes were old and lead from the pipes leached into the water. As a result, thousands of people in this city of more than 99,000 have evidence of lead poisoning from drinking the city's water.

Admittedly, the lead-contaminated water is not a good thing, but there is almost always good in the midst of a crisis, if we're willing to look for it.

I learned about two inner-city boys who have collected water for the people in Flint, Michigan. Their donation seemed like just a drop in the figurative bucket, but it turns out those young boys are not the only ones who want to help. Their small effort, combined with the donations of others, is part of making a big difference until a permanent solution can be found.

The longer I read, the more water-charity I found. The city of Memphis has joined with Fed Ex to donate 12,000 bottles of water to the people in Flint.  The Game (a rapper) has donated $500,000 to Flint and arranged with the Avita Water company to provide $500,000 more in lead-free bottled water. The first shipment of water is scheduled to arrive today. 

The Game's younger sister and two children live in Flint, so the water crisis is personal to him. The lives of his family matter to him. His concern has driven him to invest his money where his heart is, with no concern for potential gains.

Investing our money where our heart is. 

The Game's gift shows us something about his heart and his priorities. Family matters to him.

We, too, can learn something about ourselves by a careful look at our finances. Where do we spend our money? How are we changing the world by the way we invest our time, talents, resources, funds?

Most of us will not be able to make a million dollar donation to help solve a problem, but even a small gift, when joined with that of others, can make a difference for those in need. 

Look around you. What problems weigh heavy on the heart of God? What matters to Him?

If our heart is burdened by the things that burden God, our pocketbook should reflect that concern. 

Working together, we can make a difference, no matter the size of the problem. 

"The King will answer and say to them, 

'Truly  I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, 

even the least of them, you did it to Me.'" 

Matthew 25:40

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In case you missed one of this week's posts, here are the links:  Embracing Our Personal Gethsemane, What is the Point of Suffering: Extracting the Precious, Mamie and the Ink Stain, The Blizzard That Was Not,  The Truth That Matters Most: My Redeemer Lives, Truth That Matters: God Sees, and The Importance of Light.

Be sure to check out my new Amazon Author Page. You can follow me on Amazon.
#worktogether #Flintwater #water #TheGame #Christian #charity

How to Store Treasure in Heaven

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Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-21 NASB)

This series began with a look at the generosity of God ("Who Owns My Stuff"), and our own view of wealth ("Being One of the Richest People in the World"). Yesterday, we looked at where our treasure is ("Is Our Treasure Stored on Earth or in Heaven?") Although we think we "own" our wealth, it is a generous gift from God. Most of us reading this post are among the richest people in the world. Most of the world lives with so little in comparison that we might find it impossible to emulate their lifestyle. 

Today we look at how to store up treasure in heaven. It can be summed up in three words: discipleship, generosity, and perseverance.

1. Matthew 10:42 - "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward." 

Generosity and charity yield a reward that cannot be lost (a treasure stored in heaven).

2. Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 

A wealthy young man came to Jesus asking how to inherit eternal life. He had kept the law but knew he was missing something. He wanted Jesus to give him a task to do that would give what he was missing. "What good thing shall I do that may obtain eternal life?" Jesus' reply was shocking. The young man loved his money more than God. Jesus told him to loose himself from the thing that bound him (money) and give it away. More important than giving away his money, however, was that the young man needed to follow Christ. The most important way to store treasure in heaven is to transfer our love from things to Jesus and follow Him.

3. Colossians 3:23-24  “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”  

When we do our work and our good deeds for the acclaim of man, that will be all the reward we receive. When we do our work to please God, He will give us a reward in heaven. Work "heartily" to please God in order to have a heavenly reward, or treasure.

4. 2 Timothy 4:8 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." 

This brings up two actions that result in treasure in heaven. First is faithfully following Christ (perseverance) and the second is "loving His appearing" or keeping our eyes on the Coming Again Messiah rather than on this world.

There are many more verses that could be quoted. You probably have favorites of your own. There is one thing required to store up treasure in heaven. FOLLOW JESUS FAITHFULLY. Without that, no eternal treasure is possible. We must follow Him with persistence and endurance. As an outgrowth of our love for Christ, we will be generous to the poor and extravagant with our love for Him and those He loves. 

We serve a God who sees all and rewards all, either in this life or the one to come. If we want treasure in heaven, we must do what Jesus told the rich young man. Let go of the security to which we cling and follow Him.

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Our Father, I confess that I have not loved You as I should. I have loved the things of this world more than the next. Forgive me for me greed and short-sightedness, my faithlessness. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and help me to follow You, do my work for You, and give generously to those in need for You. Help me to store treasure in heaven. In Jesus name, Amen.