Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.
My Dad detested stingy. He spoke of being generous and knowing what was most important. To him what was most important was family and friends (before he came to the Lord, then it was the Lord, family and friends.) Certainly there were material things that he enjoyed beyond the essentials of a roof over the head, clothes to wear, food to eat and water to drink. For many years he had a hobby of collecting coins. He researched coins and enjoyed the finding of them. Sometimes he would go to the coin shop to buy a good investment, but most often he just kept his eyes open and examined coins as he came upon them, hoping to find the treasure that many did not know was a treasure. He did this for years. I enjoyed watching him read up on the coins, and seeing him happily place a coin in one of his many coin books. Then there came a day, when the family finances were lacking. Money needed to be had for us get by. I remember seeing my going through his coin books to determine what would be of greatest value to sell. I think I cried that my Dad had to depart with what had brought him so much joy to collect. I asked him not to sell his coins. Maybe there was another way? He tenderly explained to me how he had greatly enjoyed collecting the coins, but now something more important needed to be taken care of, his family. He once again stressed that material things were not the most important things of life, and certainly not more important than his family, than all of us. So he sold the coins that he had been collecting for so many years. I thought that afterward he would begin to rebuild his collection but he did not. He never collected coins again, but he continued to sacrifice for his family. He continued to prefer that his family was provided for, even more than that he was provided for.
When a young man I dreamt of being very successful and owning and living on a large ranch, with a wife and kids. I wanted to hire family and friends to work on the ranch and build them all a house that they could live in as long as they worked with me. As I was blessed I wanted to bless. I thought this was my future. I would be blessed by God and then I would bless others. I truly thought that was my lot. I have come to know the meaning of Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” I thought I would accomplish my goas through being a writer. Slowly, perhaps a lot longer than it should have taken, I came to be aware that although I had some talent as a writer, perhaps it was not enough to accomplish my goals. Obviously any ability as a writer that I have has not been enough. So my lofty dreams have not come to fruition. I am not going to be the great benefactor that I had envisioned.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. After coming to knowledge of Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I held onto the ranch dream for a long time. It seemed like a great goal. I had many other dreams, many other goals that have not materialized. I would not be the benefactor I had hoped to be. But my goals have greatly changed. What I most valued has changed. I no longer most greatly value my past dreams, but I most value what the will of God is for my life. Now my most valued endeavor is to please God. I do my best and I know that pleases God. So my dreams changed. I never realized the past dreams, but pleasing God is something I can live out today. Praise God for that! I never got all that I formerly wanted, but I do have all I now want. I’m good with that. Very good with that! Yes, I now have all the treasure that I most desire and have seen Matthew 16:33 come true. Praise God! He always has a better plan! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”