Monday, February 15

Begin your week with this reminder that everything you see, everything you have, and everything you are belongs to the Lord!

Psalm 24:1-2
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for all the blessings – both seen and unseen – that he has already showered on you today!

1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

It’s ironic in a way that 2000 years after Paul wrote these words we are still learning the truth that wealth is uncertain! Over the past 18 months almost all of us have felt the impact of the global economic crisis. Paul is simply reminding us where our certain hope lies – not in our wealth – but in our God!

Take a few moments to think about the following:

How often do you think of yourself as one of “those who are rich in this present world?” The truth is that most of us are well within the top 1% of the wealthiest people on the planet! God is talking to us in these verses.

How often do you evaluate yourself, your happiness and success on the basis of material wealth? If you were to suddenly lose half of everything you have – income, clothes, house, cars – would you feel differently about yourself or about God?

Ask God to help you trust more in him than you do in anything else – including money and material things!

Brian Coffey