25^th May

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you with My victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

God’s promises are always true. His word never lies. The great thing about the Bible is that we can put ourselves in the center of His promises as we apply these truths to our lives too. Today’s eternal promise to the nation of Israel, found here in Isaiah 41:10, is one such promise. God’s promise, through the prophet Isaiah, to its original audience, would have come as a great source of encouragement. God was reminding the nation who He was, who they were in Him and His plans for them, which started way back when Abraham was called out of the land of Chaldeans and into the land of Canaan. Throughout that time, Israel faced problem after problem, some of their own doing by turning their back on God, but God never left them. He was faithful to the promise He made them; even if they had to walk through hard times, He promised them He would never leave them because they were His, ‘You are My servant, For I have chosen you and will not throw you away’(9). God was not done with them. ‘The Lord, the First and the Last’ (4) was and is the One making these promises!

Friends, these same promises, are not just for Israel, but for us too. God is not going to leave you in the valley you may find yourself in. He will not ‘throw you way’ or leave you to disaster. He promised to be with you and He will hold true to that. You may not be able to see Him, but trust that He is holding you with His victorious right hand. God will never leave you. Don’t be discouraged but be strengthened. He is with YOU!

25^th May

“Then He said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own”………“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.””

Luke 12:15,21

What is your priority in life… Is it like modern day rappers…..’Get rich or die trying‘? Or is it as Jesus encourages, to have a ‘rich relationship with God‘? Jesus never condemns people for having earthly wealth. In fact it is a Godly principle to be a good steward of what God has given (not just financially but in the talents and gifts He has given us also!). However, what Jesus does address is the issue of greed and people’s love of money when it takes the place of God in their lives.

As Jesus was preaching to the crowds two men called out to Him and asked Jesus to help them settle a family dispute about an equal divide of their father’s estate. Jesus warned the two brothers to guard themselves from greed. He added that life is not measured by how much wealth you have or own. To highlight this message, Jesus shared a story about a very rich man who had so much wealth, that he had nowhere to store it. That night as he was pondering on building bigger storehouses for his investments, God said to him “You fool! You will die this very night..!” The issue Jesus was addressing, was not how the man could be a good steward of his wealth, but what he said after, “I’ll sit back and say to myself…you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink and be merry”, the love and greed for money and its place in his/our heart.

Life is truly not about what we earn or own. It is a huge blessing if we have been given wealth but our joy and happiness should never be dictated by material possession. True joy comes from having a ‘rich relationship with God’. Our investments here on earth should first be investing in the Kingdom of God, in our individual relationship with Him and in partnering with God’s work on this earth to extend His Kingdom. Let us reflect on our lives and analyse our Spiritual investments. Where is your priority?