True Value

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It’s hard to avoid talk about the economy today. It is on the forefront of our minds in many ways. There are so many unknowns. So many of the things that we trusted in as Americans can no longer be trusted. What once gave us a feeling of safety and security no longer does. Jobs that were once thought secure are now on the chopping block. Corporations once the prize of Wall Street are on the verge of bankruptcy. What was once considered a dream home for many has turned into their worst nightmare as they face foreclosure. It is in times like these, we see the treasures of this world for what they are. They don’t last. They are easily lost. And most importantly, we can’t take them with us.

This is why Jesus says, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . .” (Matt. 6:20). Jesus knew knew the uselessness of chasing after worldly wealth. He knew where it leads to and it is not a good place.

Yet, the kingdom of heaven is something we have a hard time putting a value on it. We try to wrap our mind around it and we come up short. It’s a concept that is hard to grasp as it is not something we can put our hands on like cold hard cash. One of the reasons we fail to pursue is because we fail to grasp it’s full value. How do we discover the value of the kingdom? In contrast the wealth of this world is something we can put our hands on. It is something we can touch and we can taste.

So how do we discover the value? The answer is the value of the kingdom is shown by the church in action. The value of the kingdom is when lives are saved and transformed. The value of the kingdom is shown when the hungry are fed, when the lonely are befriended, when the sick person is healed.

True wealth is not measured by the abundance of our possessions, but by the abundance of lives that have been touched through our efforts. It’s not about the house you live in, the car you drive, the gadgets in your drawer, or the size of your retirement fund. None of that stuff will matter in the end.

You can make a difference in someone else’s life today. It is not that hard to do. It could be making a telephone call or writing a note to let them know that someone cares. It might be taking a meal to a family in need. It might be volunteering to serve at a local shelter, food bank, or group home. To many of us are living for ourselves which ultimately means we are living for nothing at all. To live for something means living for something bigger than ourselves. It is living for Jesus and living for others.

We give thanks to Jesus for giving us purpose beyond ourselves!

Last Sunday, we sang this song at Lord of Life. It sort of points to what I am talking about here. Loving others may not get us the job, pay the bills, get the house in Beverly Hills, or fix our lives in 5 easy steps. But it is truly all we need.