Last week we looked at the concept of time - that is short, and because it is short, time has great value. It is ours then to choose how we will spend or invest our time. We then looked at our relationships and how we might consider using our time in each.
Those relationships: God, people, and stuff… and then, time.
How do I see my life, time? God’s concept of time: God grants me life, and time, and gently reminds me of its scarcity, so that I might use it, and invest it, wisely, in what matters most. Treasures in heaven. Matt 6:19-21
We must recognize God’s gracious generosity
First fruits: God gives us His best, starting with life itself, time here, living and loving. And even more profoundly, by giving us His Son and life through Him, and eternal life with His Son - for all of time. (Ps 86:5; Ro 2:4; 9:23; 10:12; 2Co 2:8-9; Ep 1:7-9; Ja 1:5)
As such, God is deserving of our first and best. To whom do we give our first and best? And once we have given our best, and is it then given back to us, how do we best invest it?
What do I do with the little time I have? which really, is, today, right now (Lam 3:23; Matt 6:11,25,34). In what do I invest and how? Not merely spend, but, invest? Things that will last.
What does that mean, “things that will last”? That we wisely use the little time we have to invest in relationships - because all that lasts is God and mankind - His image bearers, and more particular, His beloved children - the fellowship of believers.
Well, what about my stuff? It is not that the substance of stuff isn’t important. Our life here means something, and the stuff od earth is good and necessary for life and even joy. But, it is only temporary, not meant to accumulate and keep, but, use to live and bring bless others. Realizing what I have, is for here, an earthly treasure, and is not mine, but His, i will find that it is often with our stuff that we honor God and others - our good works, our blessing of others, actually bringing Him glory.
God grants stuff for our living…
Elijah: 1Kings 17:2-24 …who would be sustained by God… “4You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there… 5So he did what the Lord had told him…6The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.“
…for blessing and delight - Let’s briefly go back:
To Solomon: asks for wisdom, is granted wisdom and more… 2Chronicles 1:7-12 “...God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you…. 10Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
But also: God’s gives…
As a test of the heart and its gratefulness, appreciation, contentment, and affection - for Him. it also…
As a test of the heart for our living, security, and trust. And then…
As a test of our heart for our loving, caring, and giving
So let us also go to…
The Rich Young Ruler: whose heart’s affections were captivated, even bound, to His stuff - Matthew 19:16-30
To Paul: who learned to be content with little or much, but it was because he was learning that God’s grace, his name being written in the Book of Life, was sufficient for life, hope, and joy - Phill 4:12-13; Luke 10:20; 2Cor 12:9
To Jesus: who had nowhere to lay His head, trying to get us to understand, that life is more than what we think we need or want, that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God… - Matthew 8:20; 4:4
How do I see God? So in what, or maybe, more importantly, who, are we to invest the first fruits, the first and best of our time?
Turn to Exodus 19; 20:1-7
Love the LORD your God - acknowledge, honor, trust, and obey - taking time to know, God as God and heavenly Father
Seeing the Lord, and loving Him for who He is…
Fear Him: Hold God in reverent awe and respect - cultivate by seeing Him, knowing Him, by His word as it is His self-revelation to mankind, us, that we might continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Prov 1; 2; 23:17
See Him as sovereign: He is Lord, therefore, put aside our desire for this world – Ja 4:4
See and acknowledge Him in everything He’s created: Do the opposite of the world - Romans 1 ; Psalm 104:24; Pr 16:9
Honor Him: Sincerely, He IS God, worthy of our honoring - Ps 29:1; Pr 3:9
Thank Him: Be grateful and appreciative for EVERYTHING, as everything I have, I received from Him as an expression of His love and good grace – 1Co 4:7
Mercy: I deserved judgment and condemnation, my sin was a flagrant violation of His holiness and a measure of contempt of His goodness – Rom 5:8,10; Eph 2:1-10
Grace: May we be astonished at His mercy in light of my sin and rebellion, my not having see Him as God and King; and yet He would give me life in Christ - Ro 7:24-25; Heb 12:28
Abide in Him: Trusting His “good” word as the expression of His goodness and grace that it is-
John 15:4; 1Jo 2:6 “abide in me…bear fruit… walk as Jesus walked”
Ps 119:7-18; 159-160 “...I seek you with my whole heart do not let me stray from your commands... teach me your word… i delight in your decrees… all your words are true…”
Nehemiah 9:12-13 “You (God) came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right and decrees and commands that are good.”
2Tim 3:15-17 “...the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Hebrews 4:12 “12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Be attentive to Him: Courageously engage with Him in word, prayer, and the fellowship of believers - putting oneself and others to the side - Dt 32:46-47; Proiv 2:2-5; 4:20; 5:1; 7:1; Lu 18:17-18
Rejoice in Him: His Person and promises - as He works all things for the good of those who love Him - His beloved children (Romans 8:28-30; Eph 1:11; Psalm 18; Ro 5:1-11; Ja 1:2-4; 1Pe 1:3-9)
How do I see others? So, if God’s first, who’s next? Luke 6:38 Give and it will be given to you - who or what gets the next best, what has been given to us for having given?
Love your neighbor as yourself
Turn to Exodus 20:12-17
Self - God’s Exodus 20:7-8; 23:12; 31:13; Lev 19:3; Deut 5:12-14; Mark 2:27-28
Humbly, gladly, and with anticipation receive from God our good and wise making - you have been made on purpose, for a purpose, and be that honest self that God has made you
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling cooperating with God (who works in you) in your active and progressive sanctification - striving to be more like Christ in attitude, word, way and manner, and deed - Phil 2:12-16; 3:7-15; Gal 5:16,22-25
Acknowledge Him in all you do: by not going your own way, seeking and doing His will. Prov 3:5-8; 16:3
Receive from Him His blessing: being humbled and grateful, enjoy His provisions, and enjoy them even more by using his blessing to bless Him and others
Neighbor - do to others what you would like to have done to you… in God’s economy, His “do not’s” only leave room for His “do’s”, what should be done… Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
o Be merciful
o Be attentive
o Be honest
o Be kind
o Be generous
How do I see my Stuff: I am to be grateful and content with what you have… hold it loosely… look for opportunities to give and bless in a good and generous manner and way - that with my stuff I am loving God and others, and loving God by loving others. When I trust God, giving away what He has given me, my trust and faith in God honor God, and my trust and faith are, in return, deepened, and, responding to my faithfulness, I am rewarded with - more. To do what with? Hoard? Keep for a rainy day?
No, use it in acts of merciful kindness that speak of God and His care and generous kindness toward all. Especially, His beloved.
Now, in Christ, we are invited to come close, to come in boldly - not on our own account, but account of Jesus.
The invitation of God, through Jesus, to go from being loved to beloved; from being frightened to sonship - “my God”, to “our Father, Abba”; from sin-stained and dead in our transgressions, to a holy priesthood offering sacrifices of service and praise; from a mountain that could be touched, but not, to a God Himself - into the very presence of God, the holy of holies, through the body of Jesus, our High Priest - who not only opened the way, but IS the way (...the truth, and the life, our life - we are His bought with a price, for (loving) obedience to Him, bringing Him glory with our Spirit-filled sanctified lives…
Hebrews 12:18-29 (Hebrews 4:16; 9:3,7; 10:20-21)
