| |
| |
| |
| |
| "Prayer Tip: Where Your Treasure Is…" |
| |
Daily Scripture: Matthew 6:21; Luke 6:38; & 1 Timothy 6:17–19
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
1 Timothy 6:17–19
Tell people who are rich at this time… to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be generous, and to share with others. When they do these things, they will save a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future. That way they can take hold of what is truly life. (Common English Bible).
21 For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.
38 Give, and you will receive gifts -- the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!"
17 As for those who do have riches in this present world, charge them not to be proud and not to let their hopes rest on the uncertainties of riches but to rest their hopes on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share. 19 In this way they will treasure up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may lay hold of the real life. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Prayer Tip:
We tend to think of “treasure” as something we can touch, or money we can spend. As Christians, we know that Jesus expects us to share those treasures and not be focused on keeping them for ourselves. Most of us try very hard to be generous, giving, sharing people. It’s harder, sometimes, to share the things that aren’t touchable or spendable.
The treasures I find hard to part with are things like time, peace and quiet, physical and/or emotional energy, long-held opinions, and even prayer. In other words, I find it much easier to give away my coat to the person in need than to invite them to sit, tell me their story, hold my hand and pray together.
Writing to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:19), Paul says that if we are generous with all the gifts God gives us, we can take hold of what is truly life. That can be costly in terms of time. It can demand emotional energy to let our hearts be broken open by a stranger’s story. It can be frustrating to find our minds changed as we connect with someone else’s struggles. It can be humbling and scary to hold a stranger’s hand and take our hurts and broken parts to God together in prayer.
For some of us, it is harder than giving away our physical treasures, but we are promised that this generosity of self and spirit builds a life that is truly worth living. In the end, isn’t that the treasure we ask God for the most?
Lord God, help us to give the gift of ourselves,
not just our things.
Help us to open our hearts and minds to those
who need us most, without fear or hesitation,
so we may have the life you want for us,
and others see you in the way we live.
Amen (Jennifer Creager, Prayer Ministry)
 |
Jennifer Creagar is the Financial Care Program Director in Congregational Care at Resurrection Leawood. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography. |
|
| |
| Like this post? Share it! |
| |
  |
| |
| If you have a question or comment about today’s GPS or Insights blog, you can send it to GPS@cor.org. We read them all, but because of the number of responses we receive, cannot guarantee replies. |
| |
| |
|
 |
| |
| |
|
Comments
Post a Comment