Gracious God of all, bless the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Luke 12: 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." 16 Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, "What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
When growing up our daughters learned early the signs and trademarks of their favorite places to eat. The grand champion of all is McDonalds, whose golden arches beckon to the young and the hungry. Their Happy Meal is a delight to the young, getting a meal and a toy, like an early Christmas gift. Many were the times that one or the other wanted the toy first before worrying about the meal. And then there's Ronald, whose painted smile confirms the message of this hamburger joint: We're selling you happiness.
Oh, if it were so simple. And yet, at our age we still think happiness is to be found in meals or clothes or cars or homes or vacations, when we truly know true riches lie in our relationship to God. Jesus has to serve as a referee in this case between brothers. One wants his half (could these two have been the inspiration for the story of the other brothers in that story of the Prodigal?) of his inheritance and Jesus replies the truth of the matter that happiness and riches lie elsewhere not in material possessions. The reality of life is that our possessions are powerful and if we're not careful, they come to possess us.
Make a deposit in the heavenly bank today where your eternal riches lie by saying a prayer for someone or seeking to spend more time in the word of God.
PRAYER: Awesome God, how often I get pulled in the wrong direction because of where I think true happiness can be found. I know better or should. True happiness lies in You and Your love for me. Help me this day invest more in that bank where no one nor nothing can take what is mine. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Concerns: For the Michael Reilly household; they've been called by God to minister in Brazil. May the Lord bless them and protect them and use them for great things. Also, for Roberto Olivarez having heart surgery during this hour in McAllen, TX. May God watch over his recovery and over his family as they await this to be over.
