The Church’s True Riches

Daily Scripture Threshing for Tuesday l, October 10, 2023

Today’s Text: Colossians 3:1-11

Key Verse: Colossians 3:2 (NKJV): “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

When it comes to things above versus things on earth, most men miss the idea of true riches and are often being deceived. This explains why people pursue wrong things. But we can learn from the story of St. Lawrence, a third century deacon in the Church of Rome who suffered martyrdom under Emperor Valerian. The emperor had commanded Lawrence to bring him the wealth of the church — vessels of gold, silver cups, golden candlesticks. “ I can’t deny that the church is rich with precious possessions of Christ. It is blessed with much wealth and no one in the world has more.” Lawrence replied. So he took three days gathering the sick and the poor: including a man with two eyeless sockets, a cripple with a broken knee, a one-legged man, a person with one leg shorter than the other, and others with grave infirmities. He lines them up at the entrance to the church, points to them saying, “There are the church’s true riches, and you may have them.” Lawrence was killed but not the truth that true riches are those being despised by men.

Whereas we set our hearts on gold pursue and costly things, true kingdom riches is found in serving God and people. It is in loving the unlovable, serving broken people, and blessing strangers. Unfortunately, these are just not where our hearts are. In today’s text, the apostle admonishes us to set our hearts on things above. We must apply our hearts to the things of God. “For where your treasure is,” Jesus said, “there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). True riches are not in banks. They are everywhere around our homes, on busy streets, on lonely mountains, in homeless camps, and sometimes in prisons or lonely mountains. Unfortunately, our hearts are somewhere else, not in those places.

Quote for the Day: “No one too good to look after God’s trash, can ever be good enough to look after His treasure. Before God qualifies His men for true treasures, He puts real trash on their paths.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I desire to be truly rich in grace and mercy rather than in material things. Help me to always keep the proper priorities in life and to be purified in all of my desires — in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

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