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One
Man's Treasure
Alan
Smith commented on an unusual news story that came out
of Sydney, Australia.
Evidence suggests that a bicycle enthusiast may
have become a little obsessed with his hobby later in
life after it was reported that authorities had
discovered 435 bikes in his house after his death …
It took police seven days to remove the bikes along
with hundreds of frames, wheels and other parts from
[his] house."
The
bicycles that the man had collected over the years
were literally stacked to the rafters in his 3-bedroom
house. Some
of the bicycles were bought, some were traded, and
police believe many of the bicycles were stolen. I
think the police were being kind when they described
the man as being "a little obsessed."
I'd say it was more than a little!
The focus of that man's life is
obvious!
While
you and I may be quick to say that he was ridiculous
for placing so much emphasis on bicycles, STOP and
THINK for a moment.
Is that man really any different from those
of US who put other material things at the
center of OUR lives?
JESUS
talked about a man who was so obsessed with his "stuff"
that he had to tear down his barns and build bigger
barns to store it (Luke 12:13-21). But God said to
him, "Fool! This night your SOUL
will be required of you; then whose will those "things"
be which you have provided?" (Luke 12:20).
Then Jesus gave the following application:
"So is he who lays up treasure for HIMSELF, and
is not rich toward GOD" (Luke 12:21).
Let
me assure you – if the focus of your life isn't "serving
God", then it really doesn't matter WHAT your focus is!
Whether it's bicycles, jewelry, or a
vacation home at the beach or the mountains, it's all
just "clutter" that one day will be worthless.
Oh,
there's one more thing about that man with the
bicycles. I
mentioned the man's death, but I failed to tell you
how he died. He
died after hitting his head after falling off a
bicycle! How
ironic (but not that unusual) that his obsession
resulted in the hastening of his death. Some
obsessions result in DEATH,
and whenever (or however) death comes, it means the
loss of everything.
Only one "obsession" results in LIFE:
a SAVING RELATIONSHIP with God through
Jesus Christ. Paul
said, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"
(Philippians 1:21).
One
may enjoy this SAVING RELATIONSHIP with God
through Christ by: placing one's trust
in Him (Hebrews 11:6), repenting
of sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confessing
one's faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10), being baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38), AND by faithfully following Him the rest
of one's life.
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 TREASURE in HEAVEN,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves
do not break in and steal.
For where your TREASURE is, there your
HEART
will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21).
Where's
YOUR
treasure?
God
bless you!
-- David
A. Sargent / Alan
Smith
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
Alan
Smith is the Author of "Thought for the Day," a daily
devotional ministry of the White House (TN) church of
Christ. See
www.TFTD-online.com
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