ICS Daily Devotions
Where Are Your Riches?
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) “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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
A wise person is far sighted, and have eternity in perspective. The wise disciple is storing riches in heaven while the foolish is building their self-worth and serving mammon on earth. This disciple of Christ is living their life purposefully for the Lord. They have nothing to prove to man in order to earn their approval and acceptance. They don’t need earthly cheerleaders because their focus is on their ultimate cheerleader—God. They are waiting for Him to say the following affirmation when they finally meet the Lord face to face.
Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
There is a big difference between someone who has built their identity on their self-worth and someone whose sole cheerleader is God during the storm in their lives. Having lost their job or in the midst of life’s transitions, the person who has based their identity on their self-worth will have their emotions all over the place as they feel rejected, insecure, and insignificant in the eyes of men. All of their cheerleaders have left them, and they will take a long time to get back onto their feet because there is plenty to process. In contrast, the person whose sole cheerleader is God is stable, having nothing to proof, is contented with life, and experiences peace and joy. They have the joy of the Lord as their strength, which comes from listening to the Word.
Their identity which is firmly established on the foundation of being a precious child of God will help him to stand up and keep walking. They will take refuge in God when they face the storm in their life, and seek His face regarding what to do in the next phase of life. Faith will arise within them when God speaks to them during their time of prayer of consecration. They will step out in faith to walk in God’s plan, and continue walking until they go to heaven. They have good relationships with their spouse and children even in the midst of their challenges. All these have to do with the kind of foundation that they have built in the good times. Therefore, be the wise person and build the right foundation, and walk in the new identity in Christ before the storm comes.
Sermon Series: He Came to Give You a New Identity
