Thought for Monday, October 8th

October 8, 2012

Hold on Loosely

“Hold everything in your hand lightly; otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”

-       Corrie Ten Boom

      But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy   6:6-12

Young children seem to have a propensity for being somewhat territorial, especially when it comes to their toys.  Many are willing to share but they still like to know where there possessions are and they want to make sure that nothing happens to them.

Many adults carry this child-like tendency into their adult word.  We often act as if things we work so hard to obtain and those possessions we accumulate are treasures to be enjoyed, appreciated and admired by others but we are quick to make sure no one forgets that they are ours.

Yet, any earthly possession we may garner or gain is temporary and fleeting; often we loose it or it looses its value even within the limits of our lifetime and it most certainly has no eternal value.

Here are some words of wisdom from the book of Job:  “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”  Job 1:20-22

The truth of the matter is this: we brought nothing but the body God gave us  with us into this world and that is at best the most we can take with us when we leave this world of a physical nature: and even at that we will have a new body when we get to heaven.

So we need to hold on loosely to those tings of this world, enjoying them while God blesses us with them but realizing they have no lasting value and if for some reason we should find we do not have them tomorrow, we will still be alright.

Ultimately the only real valuable things we have in our world are those things of a God nature that are directly connected to Him.  Our salvation, His gift to us: and our service for Him – our acts of love for and towards Him are the only things that we can really take with us into eternity.

So enjoy what God blesses you with here below, but don’t hold on to it to tightly, rather hold on to Him.

Today’s Prayer

Father, thank you for those things you have allowed to be a part of my life, that bring joy, comfort or pleasure: but thank you more for who you are and what you mean to me: for my relationship with you is truly the greatest treasure of all.

“Purify my heart

Let me be as gold

And precious silver

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy

Refiner’s fire

My hearts one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You my Master

Ready to do your will.“

-  Lyrics from ‘Refiner’s Fire’ by Brian Doerksen