God's Gift of Money: Devotions from Time of GraceSample

Balance sheet

Do you find yourself doing personal inventory every now and then? You know, mentally reviewing your assets, your personal balance sheet as it were?

Perhaps you reflect with satisfaction on your steadily growing mutual funds, IRAs, 401(k)s, and annuities. Maybe you are counting the months until you make that last mortgage payment and the house is finally yours, not the bank’s. Or you smile at the steady promotions and raises you’ve received or your wonderful new car or much bigger house.

Not to overdo the buzzkill, but every one of those things not only can be taken from you but will be taken from you. Your best friend, Jesus, urges you to put the forgiveness of your sins and his guarantee of resurrection and immortality at the top of your personal balance sheet: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20,21).

The only way out of the grave is Jesus. The only things you can take with you to the next life are people. How do those two truths influence your agenda for today? Is it evident to Jesus and the people in your life that they are more important to you than money?