Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 8:18, “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.”
Knowing how much I am enjoying working from home and not having to run around in the evenings or the weekends because of the coronavirus, my son asked me how much of my salary would I give up to be able to permanently work from home. But having worked on our family budget extensively over the past few months, and not having a category called “Money to give back to employer,” I wasn’t able to squeeze out any pennies for that extremely desirable arrangement. But then he asked how much of a theoretical raise would I forego to keep working from home, and that certainly gave me pause. There’s not much of anything in our lives that doesn’t have a price tag if we think about it. Someone once said that everything is for sale at the right price. Even young kids know this as they dare each other to eat worms or bugs or do something dangerous or forbidden in exchange for some prized possession. Money, enough of it, can get us just about anything that we want. I must say, it’s an ongoing battle for me to not covet the thought of being comfortable enough to where every purchase didn’t have to be scrutinized. I wonder how it feels to not have to be concerned with what so many have to be concerned with. But money is fool’s gold. It looks like what it isn’t and promises things it cannot deliver. And if we know anything about God’s kingdom, we know that all the money in the world won’t get you one inch closer to it. And we are all too familiar with Jesus’ many warnings about the dangers of wealth and putting any hope therein.
But that doesn’t stop most of us from wanting more or holding on to as much of what we have as possible. I heard a talk recently where the speaker wondered about the outcry that would occur if, as we expressly ask those in church who are blessed in music or teaching or serving to use those gifts according to Romans 12, we also directly asked those blessed financially to give with liberality, also according to Romans 12. We can’t buy the Holy Spirit, as Simon learned the hard way, but we can be obedient with our finances. We can offer our bodies a living sacrifice and not be conformed to this world. But it’s going to cost you. Thank God the price is not eternity in hell.
As we seek Him today, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Have a bountiful Tuesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
