06/27/2025
Are we placing our focus on the eternal, or concentrating our efforts on those things that are fleeting, and that will fall away? Is our pride in the possessions we have in this world, at the demise of our spiritual faith and soul which live forever? This is my thought today as I seek to redirect my attention more completely towards the most important treasure of my life… my belief and faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ. Will you join me?
“And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go."”
Jeremiah 45:5 ESV
The Lord told Jeremiah that He was giving him his life and would protect him. He has given us our lives as well, but how will we spend them? Will we do those things that God wishes, like Jeremiah, or will we spend them chasing our own vanities? Will we face the disaster God will bring upon the flesh, or eternal life?
I have good health, a beautiful wife, a wonderful home, children, grandchildren, and enough wealth to comfort me, but what matters most in these things is this... my health is given to be in service to God. I have a wife with whom I share my faith, love, and life, and just as my Heavenly Father has commanded us, we are teaching our children and grandchildren to love and honor us. We realize that our lives have been loaned to us conditionally by our Heavenly Father, and that everything in our lives is of and for the glory of God, and our relationship with Him, (which is redeemed, and sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ). We realize that our lives are but a blink of an eye, when compared to what God is preparing us for. So, in what should we take pride, and where should our physical and spiritual efforts be spent?
Are these things I have spoken of as valuable to you as they are to me? Are you building your wealth out of those things that should matter most, and what are the lessons you are learning in the process? Job had all of the selfsame things and yet they were taken from Him... every one of them. What remained was His faith in God, and when we stop to look at what the true treasure was that Satan sought from Him... we find it to be his love and faith in God. This was that gem of great value that Job sacrificed all else for. This was the one thing that once stolen could not be replaced. All else was returned to Job at the end of his ordeal because he would not give up his one true treasure… his faith.
“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Job 42:10 ESV
We should love, walk, and serve God in our lives with the full understanding that everything we possess and hold dear is from Him and that even our bodies will one day return to dust. We should realize that the everlasting pearl of great value that we carry within us is our love and faith in a God, and that all else is simply window dressing.
Job understood this from the very beginning of his temptation, and held firmly to his pearl, his soul, throughout all the suffering. We read this when he said:
“And he 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." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”
Job 1:21-22 ESV
This is not to say that our spouses and children are not valuable... they are... but not just because of us and our love for them, but rather, because of the pearl that each of them carries within them too, and which will one day be the treasure they will present to God... in the same way as you and I will present ours.
So, our focus in life should be on God and His Son Jesus Christ above all else, and when we do this, then our health, loves, and possessions will all become the subjects of our thanks and praise for Him. To this end, we must understand that all things, including our life, flow from Him, and that we are to live our lives to glorify His name. If we direct our efforts in this way then we will remain true to God's will always, and never need to fear, because He will be with us and abide in us.
“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."”
Jeremiah 1:8 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all the blessings you surround me with. Thank you for my wife, home, children, grandchildren, and every provision you have given me. I acknowledge these gifts as being from you, and I thank you for them every day. Holy Father, I realize the responsibility that you have entrusted me with as my life is spent in your service and in leading my family in a godly fashion. Abba, I understand the importance of witnessing through my life in Christ to others throughout the world. Help me Lord to be an example to them of your love and steadfast nature; let them see you in me, so that one day you can gather them as pearls of great value. These are the pearls of our faith that reside in each of us, and that you desire for yourself. Most Gracious Lord, polish me, and remove the tarnish of pride that clouds the true reflection of you. I pray that my life will be spent with its focus always on you. It is in this way, and none other, that I will be judged, and in which I will be found faultless, washed clean of sin by the blood of your Son, the unblemished lamb Jesus the Christ, and separated unto you like a good fish which is chosen by the fisherman as his bounty. Praised be your name Father, for from you all blessings flow, and from you grace is poured over me through your perfect vessel Jesus Christ. Praised be your name now and forevermore!
Amen, Amen, Amen!
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:45-46 ESV
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “
Matthew 13:47-50 ESV
Rich Forbes