Who would want to own a car, but not having any gas in the tank.
Matthew 25:1-13 brings us the wise and foolish virgins. They all have their lamps, but not all are prepared. We might even say some were partially prepared.
This portion of Scripture is addressing the return of Christ but … there is so much we can apply this to at this time.
Preparation … “the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty” (meriam-webster dictionary).
Are we preparing ourselves so we are able to do and fulfill what God has called us to do?
What can we do to be better prepared?
~*~*~
Here are two passages for us to consider – Ephesians 5:15-17 and Psalm 90:12.
The Ephesians passage brings the reminder to “be careful how you walk” and “not to be foolish.” I kind of smiled as I thought of the many foolish things I have done when I was not careful in how I was walking. It reminded me of the idiom, “Haste makes waste.”
Then Psalm 90:12 brings a much needed reminder:
“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (NASB)
In numbering our days, we come to realize the preciousness of life. We pause in the knowledge of how fleeting life truly is. It was the second part of the verse which had my attention – “that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
Can it be that a heart of wisdom is the very gift we will be able to lay before the Lord? And when something is presented, is it not cherished by the recipient?
It was most humbling to think the Lord will one day receive my heart and it will be precious to Him. Perhaps this is why Scripture tells us to guard our hearts. Can it be that they are even more precious than we realize?
~*~*~
We brought the week to a close with reading Luke 12:13-21. It’s an interesting passage in which we find someone asking Jesus to tell his brother to divide the family inheritance.
Inheritances so often cause problems in families. People always want what they think they have coming to them.
But Jesus would not take any part in settling this family matter. Instead, He offers a parable of a rich man who builds more barns to store his crops.
Jesus delivers a sobering message in verse 21:
“So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God” (NASB).
What is the reminder Scripture is bringing?
It is quite sobering to realize we can store up, and store up even more, and never get to enjoy or use what we have accumulated. But when we invest in our relationship with God, we gain everything.
Fill up your life with God.
The study asks: How can you seek to be rich in your relationship with God this week?
~*~*~
Be prepared at all times,
number our days wisely, and
be rich in your relationship with God.
Photo 1: by Erica Nilsson on Unsplash
Photo 2: by Mara Ket on Unsplash
Photo 3: by Jouwen Wang on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
I’ll have to mull over what being ”˜rich with my relationship with God’ means for me! Perhaps it means being joyful in service and not begrudging what I give.
“Gaining a heart of wisdom” has been the tagline of my blog for ages–and I know I will be working at it my whole life long.
It’s funny, I have often emphasized “teach us to number our days,” but I had never really thought about “that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Thank you for your helpful thoughts on this.
Amen Joanne, nothing is more satisfying and joyful to me than filling my life up with God. Thank you for these important reminders to live by, to be prepared at all times, to number my days wisely, and be rich in my relationship with God. Blessings.