Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Luke 12:15

God wants all of us to live in his sweet spot of success. For that to happen, we must be willing and ready to honor him in every area of our lives—including the area of finances.  But in today’s schizophrenic economy, many people question the biblical principle of tithing. But the truth is, whether it’s respecting our parents, loving our neighbor, or yes, even managing our money God’s way—honoring God’s Word is the fastest way to discover a blessed life. When we honor God through everything we do, say, touch and feel, we find ourselves positioned for a life of blessing.  When God challenges you to bring the first 10% of everything you make to your local house of worship, he’s simply telling you to return to him what is already his. Because he knows that where you treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).  People say, “Money talks.” If that’s true, what does your money say about your priorities?

Lord, Please help me to always be on guard against the temptation to hoard my wealth, no matter how great or how small that may be. I want to be a good manager over the financial resources that you have blessed me with so that I can be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

When the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”  Mark 15:39

While I know in my head that Jesus died for all people, sometimes I am guilty of thinking there are people beyond God’s reach. I worked with a boy whom I subconsciously labeled as a person very unlikely to become a Christian. Even when I prayed for him, I don’t think I really believed that God would answer my prayers. The boy seemed to be too emotionally distant, to have too many problems, and to be highly unlikely to stop and listen long enough for someone to tell him about Jesus. I was very wrong.  Many of the kids I worked with hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, but this young man believed what he heard. Now I love to watch the way this boy’s life is changing as he reads the Bible and strives to live the way Jesus wants him to.  God can change the most unexpected people, at the strangest times and in the most unlikely places. A number of people watched Jesus die, but as today’s reading shows, the centurion realized that he was watching the death of the Son of God. No one is beyond the power of God’s love. No matter how hard-core or difficult they may seem, Jesus loves them and died for them.

Dear God, thank you that no one is beyond the reach of your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. Ecclesiastes 3:13

A local senior-citizens’ center held a New Year’s Eve “sock-hop” dance complete with decorations, food, and a jukebox. The “hoppers” were mostly in their 70s and 80s. One of the dancers was less than graceful in his movements to the music, but he danced with all his heart while sporting a huge smile. When asked why he danced with such gusto, he replied that he did not know how many more days he would have to dance, laugh, and enjoy himself — certainly not as many as he had already experienced. He intended to make the most of every day he had.  As I listened to the man’s reply, I realized that none of us, regardless of our age, knows how many days we have left. The Bible tells us that while we are here our time is to be spent making disciples for Jesus Chrisr and being his witnesses, loving one another, praising God in all ways possible, laughing, living in peace, and doing good.  How many days have I wasted in complaining, demanding my own way, withholding love and goodness? How many hours have gone by while I wallowed in self-pity, plotted revenge, or pushed others aside to be in first place? I cannot go back and retrieve those lost days and hours, but I can make the most of this day and every day that I have from now on.

Giver of Life, help us to live each day to glorify you. Amen.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.  1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Some people seem to push everything else aside and dedicate their lives to getting more and more things. They want their possessions, their pile of Skittles, to grow bigger. Now, God doesn’t say that having things is bad. In fact, he wants us to experience the joy of our surroundings. But an extreme attitude towards accumulation of stuff is called greed. It’s this attitude that causes us to miss out on so much of the life God has in store for us.  But when we acknowledge the reality that God is the one who blesses us, it causes us to break free from the chains of greed and materialism. 

To live the sweet life and be in God’s favor, you need to realize that you are a manager of what you have been given, not an owner. Every one of us is here to simply be good stewards of the things God has entrusted to us. Because when we realize that, we discover the freedom to let those things flow through us so that we can in turn be a blessing to others.

Dear God, Help me to better manage my life by turning everything over to you, giving you everything I have—my job, my relationships, my finances, and whatever else I’m holding on to. I want to be faithful in the little things, so that I can be entrusted with even more in order to glorify you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest.  Exodus 34:21

My parents’ behavior on most Sunday afternoons puzzled me. Why would they choose to waste time resting when there were so many things to do?  Not long after I married and started a family, I finally understood why God said, “For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord” (Exod. 35:2). God provided the Sabbath for worship and for rest. I now plan ahead to make certain I rest Sunday afternoons after a morning at church.  Having a day to rest renews our energy and zest for life. A day to focus on something besides work also helps to prevent burnout. Jesus understood this need for rest. After the death of John the Baptist, Jesus told his disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).  The Sabbath rest not only refreshes mind and body but also refreshes our spirit so we can serve God more faithfully.

Dear Father, thank you for a day to spend special time with you in worship and in rest. Help us, God, to follow your example and to rest. Amen.

[Jesus] called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.” Mark 12:43

One year I helped the Salvation Army by operating one of their kettle stations and ringing a little hand bell in front of a local grocery store. Some days the winter cold makes the bell ringing challenging and unpleasant, but the faces of the coin droppers make it all worthwhile. That Christmas season, a dear elderly woman stood near the kettle searching a long time in her purse for some coins. She appeared as if she were the one who needed financial help. Finally, she beamed with success as she deposited her rather meager offering. But as Jesus noted in his story of the widow and her penny, it was the sacrificial giving from the heart that mattered.  Often during my Salvation Army bell-ringing experience, I noticed that the people who gave the most often were ones who seemed to be the poorest, and their beaming countenance reflected their joy in giving. But the ones I remember the most are the children who deposited coins given to them by a parent. When they heard the words “Merry Christmas” they flashed wonderful smiles. Yes, giving — however small the amount — can bring us a bright face and a soaring spirit.

O God, we know you ask us to be cheerful givers. May our gifts bring joy to others. Amen.

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.  Proverbs 3:9-10

God has given us a tool to help us understand that we are managers. This tool helps us better resist the temptation to think that we are the creators of what God blesses us with. That tool is the tithe. Very simply, the tithe is 10% of whatever comes into your household.  Satan knows that the tithe is a powerful tool in our lives. And he is a master in how he deceives us and convinces us to hoard this resource rather than bringing it back to God. Satan’s goal is to keep us living outside of God’s blessing by whispering excuses into our lives like: “You can’t afford it,” or “It’s ok to just give a little bit after you take care of everything else.”  Whenever you are tempted to play the role of owner instead of being a good steward; whenever you are tempted to keep the tithe for yourself rather than returning it to God, just remember the motives of Satan. He doesn’t want you to be blessed, and doesn’t want you to be a blessing to others. Take care of first things first and always bring God what is rightfully his. Because when you are faithful in the tithe, the blessings you will experience will always be worth it!

Dear God, Please help me commit to always bring you what is rightfully yours, my firstfruits, my tithe. Help me to always trust and believe in your Word, and not fall for Satan’s deceptive ways. I want to be in your will for my life by being obedient and honoring you with my wealth. In your son Jesus’ name, Amen.

[Jesus] said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49

Years ago, while on patrol, I found a 3 year old wondering down the street sobbing.  He had walked away from his parents to look at something interesting and became lost. i found his parents a bit later shouting his name and began searching for him franticly.  But as we started toward the police station, he suddenly pointed at a building and said, ‘Look! That’s Daddy’s church!’ Then I understood whom he belonged to. I had seen the parents out walking and looking earlier, so I knew where to take him.” 

Going astray is easy because many things take our focus away from the Lord. But when we find ourselves far from where we know God wants us to be, one landmark never fails. We belong to God. We will find our way home when we seek fellowship with those who follow Christ.

Dear Lord, keep us close so that we do not lose our direction in life. Amen.

Jesus said . . . “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”   John 14:6

Years back,a professor asked my college class, “Why do people believe in God?” The students offered several reasons: “People believe in God because they are afraid to die,” or, “because they are uneducated,” or, “because they are unaware of other options.” I remained silent, unnerved by what I had heard as hostile words from my classmates.  The professor listened carefully and then replied, “Suppose people believe in God because it’s true, because God is real.” His surprising response filled me inwardly with laughter and a sense of freedom.  Because we can trust that what the Bible says about God is true, we can face each day with joy, seeking to love and obey Christ. He speaks the truth and lives the truth; he is the Truth who sets us free. (See John 8:32.)

Lord Jesus, help us to love the truth and always to speak the truth in love. May our lives and words reflect your truth and your love to others every day. As Jesus taught us, we pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  Psalm 42:1

One day during my walk through a wooded area, I looked up to find myself about 30 feet from a deer that was feasting on some sort of plant. I was startled by how suddenly it seemed to appear. This deer didn’t act afraid of me. Quietly it ate and then gently moved on. I was deeply moved by the deer’s beauty and serenity. Its unexpected appearance made me realize that God is always nearby, watching over me.

When anxiety, fear, and doubt slip into my heart and mind, I sometimes forget about God’s power. I don’t feel confident that I know God’s plan for me, and I don’t understand when it seems that God is not responding to my prayers. Then I stop to consider that as Romans 8:28 says, God is working, moving, shaping, and using everything in our lives for ultimate good, and my perspective changes. I realize that God is neither bound by my inability to see or trust nor frightened by my doubt, fear, and flaws. Instead, God quietly invites me to draw near; that’s where God wants me to be.

Dear Father, awaken our senses to recognize your presence wherever we go today. Help us to be convinced that because you love us you are with us. Amen.