True Riches

This Day’s Scripture Threshings for Friday, February 8 , 2019

Today’s Text: Luke 12: 22-34

Key Verse: ”For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (vs. 34, ESV)

True riches are not often perceived or pursued. The story of St. Lawrence, a third century deacon in the Church of Rome who suffered martyrdom under Emperor Valerian aptly demonstrates this. Valerian 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. Therefore 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.

While our hearts are in golden articles and costly things, true kingdom riches is found in serving people: loving the unlovable, serving broken people, and blessing strangers. Unfortunately, these are just not where our hearts are. In today’s text, Jesus warned His followers to avoid hoarding possessions. He linked giving to the poor with valuing what will not rust or decay. “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 in prisons. But our hearts are not in those. Jesus left the riches of heaven to seek and to save that which was lost. Therein is true riches; but where is our hearts?

Quote for the Day: “If you are too good to look after God’s trash, you are not good enough to look after God’s treasure.” (Matshona Dhliwayo)

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’ most precious name. Amen.

With all my Love and Prayer,

Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),

2321 S Belt Line Rd., Suite 144,

Grand Prairie TX 75051 USA

Email: reachingout@hopeforallnations.org

BBMme: E3F988D2

[*This Day’s Scripture Threshings* is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA. Feel free to use it in your family altar and personal quiet times; and to contact us for further enquiry, help and partnership.]

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