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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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To Have Or To Hold? A successful businessman and his friends were talking and laughing together and enjoying their success. The businessman told of his childhood of poverty. Someone had once given him a big coin. To have a coin was rare for children then, and his little sister begged to hold it. He laughed over the memory of all the chores he could get her to do for him just to get to hold the coin. He told of a day when she minded the cows all day for the privilege of holding the coin, only to have to give it up at the end of the day. All of the men laughed again at the childishness of the sister. Just then, one man (not laughing), reminded the businessman that all he was doing now in labor and service was the privilege of holding onto a few possessions for a limited amount of time. “The end of the day is coming, and you will HAVE to give them up... just like your little sister did.” The
Scriptures state: “Do NOT love the world or the
things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is
in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but
is of the world.
And the
world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John
2:15-17). Jesus said, “Do NOT lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). The
Apostle Paul wrote: “For we brought NOTHING
into this world, and it is certain we can carry NOTHING
out” (1 Timothy 6:7). Friends,
we need to be focusing primarily on those things that
are eternal. The
things of this world are temporal, and we can’t take
them with us! Eternal
life with God is promised to those who do His will.
This life has been made possible through the
sacrificial death of Jesus, God’s Son, who paid the
price for our redemption (Ephesians 1:7).
He will save those who respond to Him in faith
(Acts 16:30-31), repentance
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confession
(Romans 10:9-10), and baptism
(immersion) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38). God
will reward those who continue to follow Him all of
the days of their lives (Revelation 2:10). Jesus
said, “Where your TREASURE is, there your HEART
will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Where is your treasure?
Is it in the things you can see and touch which
are temporary? Or,
is it in those things that are eternal – the things
of God? Look around you!
Take an inventory of all of your
possessions. Remember, Don't
wait for DEATH to tear these earthly treasures from
your heart's grip. Have YOU placed your hope in things eternal? Why not do so TODAY through your trusting obedience? God bless you! David A. Sargent, Minister Church of Christ at Creekwood To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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