Five Invitations - Day 14
DAY 14 - Today is Temporary
Psalm 39:4-7
David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29 shows a final attitude adjustment that helps him connect with God through giving. He prays in v.15, “We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.”
David isn’t saying that this material world doesn’t matter and “I can’t wait until we’re ghosts hanging out in heaven!” He’s not talking about place, but time. Life before death doesn’t last long, especially in comparison to life in eternity. Today is temporary.
Jesus teaches us the same thing in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” David echoes the theme again in Psalm 39. He remembers the shortness of life.
Today is temporary. These things are temporary. They’re scarred by sin and waiting to be lifted to a higher level of permanence, into glory. The problem is we put too much value and too much trust in temporary things. So we hold tighter to our stuff and yell “Seize the day!” Knowing today is temporary shifts our perspective to the truly long-term, the eternal. It lifts our eyes up to God.
If today is temporary, then I can hold money and things loosely. If today is temporary, I can give willingly and joyfully. If today is temporary, I can give to God. If today is temporary, I can trust God who lasts forever.
Giving then becomes an act of faith. It strengthens our relationship with God because we’re trusting God to provide what we need, even when we give away some of what we have.
REFLECT:
How does the possibility of life with God in eternity affect how you live today? How does it affect the way you use money and material things?
PRAY:
Lift up my eyes, Lord, from the temporary. I want to hold money and things more loosely. Help me to live in the light of eternity when this world is purified and glorified. Amen.
Psalm 39:4-7
David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29 shows a final attitude adjustment that helps him connect with God through giving. He prays in v.15, “We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.”
David isn’t saying that this material world doesn’t matter and “I can’t wait until we’re ghosts hanging out in heaven!” He’s not talking about place, but time. Life before death doesn’t last long, especially in comparison to life in eternity. Today is temporary.
Jesus teaches us the same thing in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” David echoes the theme again in Psalm 39. He remembers the shortness of life.
Today is temporary. These things are temporary. They’re scarred by sin and waiting to be lifted to a higher level of permanence, into glory. The problem is we put too much value and too much trust in temporary things. So we hold tighter to our stuff and yell “Seize the day!” Knowing today is temporary shifts our perspective to the truly long-term, the eternal. It lifts our eyes up to God.
If today is temporary, then I can hold money and things loosely. If today is temporary, I can give willingly and joyfully. If today is temporary, I can give to God. If today is temporary, I can trust God who lasts forever.
Giving then becomes an act of faith. It strengthens our relationship with God because we’re trusting God to provide what we need, even when we give away some of what we have.
REFLECT:
How does the possibility of life with God in eternity affect how you live today? How does it affect the way you use money and material things?
PRAY:
Lift up my eyes, Lord, from the temporary. I want to hold money and things more loosely. Help me to live in the light of eternity when this world is purified and glorified. Amen.
Posted in Fall 2022
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
The Way DAY 9 - Full of the Holy SpiritThe Way DAY 10 - Defeating Your DefeatersThe Way DAY 11 - The Year of JubileeThe Way DAY 12 - FreedomThe Way DAY 13 - Freedom to LoveThe Way DAY 14 - Ditch "What About Me"The Way DAY 15 - The Way of LoveThe Way DAY 16 - The TeacherThe Way DAY 17 - What is the Kingdom of God?The Way DAY 18 - Trust and ObeyThe Way DAY 19 - Follow MeThe Way DAY 20 - Differences and DisagreementsThe Way DAY 21 - Jesus and Mr. RogersThe Way DAY 22 - Respond Like JesusThe Way DAY 23 - Bend Toward MercyThe Way DAY 24 - Burden or Bless?The Way DAY 25 - BONUS: The TwelveThe Way DAY 26 - Happy?The Way DAY 27 - Excessive GenerosityThe Way DAY 28 - What is Love?The Way DAY 29 - Give What God Gives
March
The Way DAY 30 - Follow the LeaderThe Way DAY 31 - Dinner with a PhariseeThe Way DAY 32 - Don't Be the HeroThe Way DAY 33 - God's GraceThe Way DAY 34 - The Grace You ShowThe Way DAY 35 - Our Sin and Our SaviorThe Way DAY 36 - Jesus and ParablesThe Way DAY 37 - The Farmer and the SeedsThe Way DAY 38 - The Seed and The SoilThe Way DAY 39 - The Good HeartThe Way DAY 40 - Who is Jesus, Pt 1The Way DAY 41 - Who is Jesus, Pt 2The Way DAY 42 - They Saw His GloryThe Way DAY 43 - Your Next StepThe Way DAY 44 - His DevotionThe Way DAY 45 - The Leadership of JesusThe Way DAY 46 - Pick Up Your CrossThe Way DAY 47 - Daily DenialThe Way DAY 48 - Forgive Like JesusThe Way DAY 49 - Trusting God
April
Because of Easter DAY 1Because of Easter DAY 2Because of Easter DAY 3Because of Easter DAY 4Because of Easter DAY 5Because of Easter DAY 6Because of Easter DAY 7Because of Easter DAY 8Because of Easter DAY 9New Devo Starts SoonPsalms DAY 1Psalms DAY 2Psalms DAY 3Psalms DAY 4Psalms DAY 5Psalms DAY 6Psalms DAY 7Psalms DAY 8
2023
June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering
July
Revelation Day 21 - The Cry for JusticeRevelation Day 22 - The Judgments of GodRevelation 23 - They Still Did Not RepentRevelation Day 24 - Don't Curse CorrectionRevelation Day 25 - Search Me, O GodRevelation Day 26 - You Shall ProphesyRevelation Day 27 - Eat This BookRevelation Day 28 - Fight!Revelation 29 - Let the Truth TalkRevelation Day 30 - Worship and WitnessRevelation Day 31 - Our EnemiesRevelation Day 32 - The Enemy's Weapon