True Riches

-April 13, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

There are riches and there are true riches. The former exist only in this world, at this present time; the latter are eternal and of much greater value. Earthly riches can soon disappear. They can wear out, be lost, stolen, spent, or squandered. Which would you rather have?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure, there your heart will be also.”

They call investments securities but they are anything but secure; houses and lands as real estate though they offer a mere veneer of reality. They are subject to fire, earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters. We can take nothing from this world into eternity.

Bill MacDonald tells the story that illustrates true riches verses the riches of this world. John was a godly Christian who served as a caretaker for a wealthy aristocrat’s estate. One night John had a vivid dream in which he was told that the richest man in the valley would die before midnight the following evening. When John met his employer the next morning, he shared the dream with him. At first, the millionaire pretended to be completely unconcerned. He never felt better. And he didn’t believe in dreams anyway. But as soon as John left he called his chauffeur to drive him to the doctor for a complete physical check up. As expected, all the tests revealed he was in splendid condition. And still he was worried about John’s dream. He invited the doctor over to his home for dinner and a visit afterwards. Every time the doctor wanted to leave, the rich man kept asking him to stay a little longer. Finally, the clock struck midnight and rich man felt so relieved. A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. When he opened the door, the adult daughter of old John stood there and said, ‘Sir, my mother wanted to let you know that my father had a heart attack and died a little while ago.’ The richest man in the valley died that night.

May the Lord help us to realize and appreciate our true riches in Christ. Dear saint, you are rich, far richer than all the millionaires and billionaires in this world. Let us pursue the true riches in Christ. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Rich beyond measure with heavenly treasure,

Dean