Much more than an arm and leg

 What does it cost to get to the top?  What does it take to get the A+, make the promotion, or get your dream home?  I think maybe it costs much more than time or efforts to get all the physical things we ever wanted, especially if it is at the price of our spiritual goals.  Your joy, peace, patience, and self-control are just a few things that will take a hit if you choose to pursue the riches of this life over heavenly riches.

 Luke 12 shows a powerful illustration of this concept when talking about the man who hoards all his riches and builds bigger barns to store his grains, only to die within the night.  The key to the balance between having possessions and remaining humble in Christ is this:  All of our physical possessions are blessings from God for us to steward and to use for His glory, not rewards that we gain.  Proverbs 3:9 reminds us that our spiritual health is never to take a backseat to worldly riches, stating, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce”. (ESV)  Again it’s OK to have things, but they mustn’t have you! ~ Sophia Wise