breaking the bank
"Make it your practice instead to store up heavenly treasure." —Matthew 6:20
Do you have savings, stocks, bonds, investments, or CDs? Jesus commanded: "Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure" (Mt 6:19). Do you have extra clothes or shoes in your closet? Do you have more than one house, car, TV, or more than one anything? Check with the Lord to see if you may be laying up for yourself an earthly treasure.
If we have any savings, nesteggs, or extras, we must transfer our treasures from earth to heaven (Mt 6:20). We do this by repenting, changing our hearts, and giving our money and possessions to God's kingdom. The Lord may ask us to be His stewards and continue to manage some of His possessions. Other possessions He will call us to give to the poor. However, He will never tell us to sit on His money and possessions. He does not consider this good stewardship. For the Lord, good stewardship means putting everything to maximum use immediately in obedience to Him.
God provides what we need for now. He operates on a "daily bread" basis (Mt 6:11). Therefore, His stewards must operate on the same basis.
Prayer: Father, may my treasure and heart be in heaven.
Promise: "If your eyes are good, your body will be filled with light." —Mt 6:22
Praise: Giving their all to God, the Lincolns saw Him provide for their temporal needs time and time again.
Reference: (To help you transfer your treasures to Heaven, read the Bible every day. We have several tape series to help you. Overview of the Bible in six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is 32 audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or 17 video tapes starting with V-21.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 1, 2011
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