Rich asked "so you want people to respect you because you have money?" The young man answered "yes." Rich then asked "what will happen if your money is stolen or you spend all of it? Then will the respect people had for you be gone too?" The young man was silent and thought for awhile.
Rich told him that you should be respected because you are honest, hard-working and walk with God not because of money or other things that will perish. The kid just looked at Rich for awhile thinking about this new concept then remarked, "you should be a preacher."
We have started to figure out how smart Jesus was with His teachings. Most of His lessons were conversations and problems of everyday life not some issue of doctrine. We are praying and looking for opportunities to teach in this way because lets face it neither of us are going to be in a pulpit any time soon.
We encourage all of you to read in Matthew 6 today. Spend some time examining yourself and where your heart is.
Matthew 6:19-24
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
