29th July 2022
A rich relationship with God
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Luke 12:21 (NLT)
We were new to the neighbourhood and were taking a walk around to orient ourselves when a friendly, elderly couple stopped working in their garden and introduced themselves. In their driveway stood a brand-new, top-of-the-line mobile home. They were clearly bursting with the exciting news that they had just retired and had bought a mobile home. They planned to travel around the United States visiting family and friends, and they had a wish list of places they had always wanted to go and see but never had the time, until now. Yosemite National Park, and the big redwood trees; Key West, to watch the sunset on the beach; Buckingham fountain in downtown Chicago, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC – the list was long, and they were in a hurry to get started.
We never saw them again and were greatly saddened to hear they were killed in a serious road traffic accident just two weeks later. It was a sobering reminder that ultimately we are not in charge and all our plans can quickly come to nothing.
It reminds me of the story of the farmer found in Luke 12, who had so many crops that he needed to build bigger barns in which to store them. He planned, after all his hard work, to sit back and “…take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” (v.19). Unfortunately God had other plans and he died before he could enjoy all his wealth. The Bible says, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (v.21).
It is not wrong to plan ahead or to save up for a future time when we can enjoy ourselves, as long as we know that the most important thing we can do is to spend time building and deepening our relationship with God. He should be our daily priority and our focus, not material possessions.
It sounds easy to do but in the business of everyday life it is quite difficult to maintain a Godly focus. If not checked, we can become distracted by our own interests and desires and before we know it, God is becoming less important, and we are spending less time in his presence.
The story of an empty glass jar that gets filled with large stones, then smaller ones before finally sand and water are poured in, is told from the point of view that there is always room for more even when something seems full. But I have heard it said that you need to put the bigger things into the jar first. If you don’t, they just won’t fit. We have to put God at the centre of our lives and fit everything else in around him.
Prayer
Our loving Father in heaven, thank you for this physical life and the material blessings you love to share with us. Help us to remember, although they are good, they shouldn’t be what we care most about. Instead, help us to focus on you and keep you at the centre of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Jackie Mill
About the writer:
Jackie Mill is a Minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Co-Pastor for Scotland and Ireland.
Local congregation:
GCI, Edinburgh – Edinburgh has a zoom service at the moment. For details email the local congregational contact below.
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church