« Moving Right Along | Main | Metaphor for Confusion »
January 09, 2007
My Hope is in You
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:19-21
The word "treasure" makes us think of money, but I interpret it to include much more in this verse. Try reading it using the word "value" or "worth." What happens when we place too much value in a job, in our grades, in one person, or in our circumstances? We set ourselves up for disappointment and loss. Look around you. Everything you see can fail you. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. -Colossians 3:2
One lesson I've been learning lately is that I'm quick to see the good in people. This sounds like a positive trait, but Romans 3:23 states that the assumption that people are inherently good is plain wrong, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. People will fail us. We will fail others. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't love them, but we should recognize our fallen state. Psalm 118:8 reminds us that it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. If we know that to err is human, we can be more prepared to forgive.
The good news is that God will never fail us. We can love him and worship him as much as our heart can possibly love and worship, and He'll never let us down. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." -Psalm 16:2
Posted by Megan at January 9, 2007 07:07 PM
Comments
I like the one that says something like (can't remember where it is) "The thoughts of man are only evil all the time." Thanks be to Christ!
Posted by: Scott at January 10, 2007 02:16 PM
I love (somedays) that humility comes along with failure and forgiveness. Reminds me how much I do need to take that refuge in the Lord.
Thought from Faithwalkers: I realized during Brent Knox's teaching (God the Magnificent Creator) how small I have made Him. He's much easier to "manage" in smaller stature. God reminded me He cannot be "managed" and is definitely not small in stature. I felt challenged to, not only take refuge in Him, which in itself implies He a big God, but to believe Him for bigger things. Or maybe even things I think would never happen be it treasures, job, relationships, etc.
Thanks for sharing Megan!!
Posted by: wendy sue at January 10, 2007 03:59 PM
I loved what you said about how recognizing our fallen state as humans, would make us more prepared to forgive. That makes a lot of sense. I should think like that more often:)
Posted by: Jamie at January 10, 2007 07:41 PM
Poor Suzanne Somers...
Posted by: Dustin at January 10, 2007 08:10 PM
Yeah I have the same knack for finding the good in other people. You can think of it as you don't want to set them on too high a pedestal because you will be that much more aware and disillusioned when they fall (as we all do).
Do you think there is something different you should be doing in how you treat/perceive others or just that you should have that much higher regard for God?
Posted by: Steve O at January 11, 2007 03:44 PM
Steve, I think it's a little of both -- I need to remember that humans aren't God and that God isn't human.
Posted by: Megan at January 15, 2007 11:33 PM