The Escrow Account

If you've read the book of Esther, you know that her uncle Mordecai, was a good man. Once, Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the king. He told his niece, Esther, who told the king. Mordecai's actions saved the king and it was duly noted in the chronicles (or records) of the day. 

Unfortunately, Mordecai had an enemy named Haman who plotted to kill him, as well as all the Jews. When Haman convinced the king to approve his plot and make it law, it appeared that the plot was going to proceed.

It happened, though, that, at just the right time, the king couldn't sleep. He was rambling around in the night and decided to read for a while. (Leanna paraphrase coming up.)

"Bring me the book and records of the kingdom and read them to me," he commanded.

As they read, the story of Mordecai and how he uncovered the plot and saved the king was recounted. 

"What did we do for this good man?" the king asked.

"Not a thing," he was told.

That's when Haman's plan began to unravel. Mordecai received honor and blessings. The Jews were spared. Haman was executed for his tyranny.

In a way, Mordecai's good deed was held in escrow by God. If you've ever bought real estate with a mortgage, you probably know about escrow accounts. The lender establishes an account of funds used to pay for taxes and insurance during the period of the mortgage. 

That's what happened to Mordecai. At the exact moment that the report of his action was most needed, it was revealed, and it became a pivotal point in God's plan.

Peter tells us that, in the time-sense of God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. (2 Peter 3:8) He knows all we do, and He responds promptly... in the divine timetable of His that seems so unusual to us.

If you're like me, you've probably had people comment about how something you said months before has stuck with them. How some action touched them and they could still recall it years later. In a way, those words and actions were stored in an escrow account and used by God in just the way He needed, at just the right time.

As we go about our day, let's remember that God's ways are not our ways. He sees everything. Every good deed. Every kind word. Every sacrifice. Even when we forgot, He does not.

Our good words and deeds are all stored in the mind of God and, at just the right time, He'll use them as He sees fit. It may be that He's waiting to reward us "for such a time as this."

So don't hold back. Say the kind words. Do the good deed. Make the big sacrifice. Even if no one ever notices, God does. And He never forgets.

"But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 2 Peter 3:8 nasb
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: The Biting Cat That Finally Didn't 
Here's the link to the prayer guide: The Prayer List

Here's the link to my Global Outreach page: Leanna Hollis MD
#dailyinspiration

The Never Fail Investment: Storing Treasure in Heaven

"Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also." Luke 12:33-34 NASB)

Today's post is a continuation of the section in Luke where Jesus addressed greed and materialism (leading into the lily series). Yesterday, we considered where we store our treasure. Today, we turn to the results of storing our treasures in heaven.

Over the years, several money managers have given me their expert opinion about how to safeguard my money and how to invest. The highest yield ventures always turned out to be the highest risk, with the greatest amount lost. One stock market crash after another made me wonder why I chose the high risk/high yield option in the first place. I finally learned that a "high risk" investment is exactly that. High risk. My investment strategy now is much more conservative.

There is one investment strategy that never fails. When we store our treasure, our investments, in heaven, they are unaffected by fluctuating stocks. Thieves never steal our riches. Moths never destroy our cash.

How do we put our investments in heaven? Matthew Henry wrote, "Grace will go with us into another world, for it is woven in the soul; and our good works will follow us, for God is not unrighteous to forget them." When we do good in the name of Jesus, we invest in the kingdom of God. We make an investment in heaven.  

Our heavenly investment has the most amazing return. It never runs out. Matthew Henry says it is "never exhausted. We may spend upon it to eternity." I'm not sure what a heavenly return on an investment of grace and good works will be, but it will never fade; it will never end. 

Giving money is not the only investment we can make. Visiting those in prison, praying for the persecuted church, mission trips, helping in Bible school, volunteering at a local hospice, visiting shut-ins are all examples of "good works" that can serve as a kind of investment in eternity. There are too many opportunities to list them all, for, this side of eternity, there will never be an end to poverty, hurt, need. There will never be an end to opportunities to do good. 

I wish I'd invested more in the kingdom of God. I wish I'd shown more grace, done more good works. 

Every day, we have opportunities to either go about our usual routine of life, or do a little extra, a good work, show a bit of grace to one in need. Every day, we have an opportunity to store treasure in heaven. An opportunity and a choice. Will we keep our eyes on this earth or set our hearts and our eyes on heaven? 

Our focus determines how we live, so let's choose well. Set our hearts on heaven and send our investments on ahead. 

Give grace and do good.

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Almighty God, Forgive me for setting my heart on things of this world. Help me to focus my mind, heart, soul on heaven so that I might live the way Jesus lived. Free of worry with openhanded generosity. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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