“[Job] said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'” Job 1:21
“There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. He is father.., but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away… This is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?” Ecclesiastes 5:13-16
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Both Job and Solomon had known great wealth and abundance. They had lived well, enjoyed much, and experienced bereavement and testing of faith. They each, in very different circumstances, testified to the meaninglessness of vesting identity and fulfillment in anything they would not keep eternally. All earthly gain was subject to the fickle wind of loss, while the Lord’s name and treasure with Him was eternally blessed. (1 Kings 4:21-33; 11:1-7,14; Job 1:1-3,13-19)
For assignments and ventures, we plan what we need. I must have this, I need to take that. According to ‘them,’ there are many imperatives we must own and use to get along and get ahead. The world offers a plethora of stuff we are made to think we must own, yet nothing will we take with us from earth.
God’s economy orders importances differently. The Scriptures tell us not to worry about what we go after here below. It enumerates lavish riches we have in Christ, and teaches that the one doesn’t fuss but listens to Jesus has the one thing needful. Real, everlasting, yet unseen treasure is ours in salvation and an ongoing relationship with Christ. Compared to Him and His bounty, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, there is nothing else to be desired! (Psalm 73:25-26; Matthew 6:25-32; Luke 10:41-42; Romans 8:29-32; Ephesians 1:3-14)
What do we really think we cannot do without? How many items do we plan to take here and there that are of no lasting significance? How would we go about our days differently if we planned along spiritual lines, how we can store heavenly riches? What might we invest today- of attention, time, prayer, resources- to build treasure in heaven? Who needs to know His worth? What crowns we lay at Jesus’s feet? (Revelation 3:11; 4:10-11)
“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.” ~St. Dallán Forgaill (530-598)
Lord, may I pursue only what lasts and brings You glory.
As the rain and snow 