Daily devotional, October 23, 2023 Saving for the future

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36

Ants are known to be one of the most diligent creatures on Earth. They work day in and day out to serve their queen by storing up food, caring for the young and protecting their abode. They all work so hard that they can bear up to 50x their body weight just to save for their future provisions. 

Like these ants, we humans also have the tendency to wear ourselves out to save for the future. The financial industry has various products that encourage adults to save money, invest funds, and make sure they have something to cover for emergency and unforeseen expenses. The problem though is sometimes we bear this burden too much that we forget that life happens while we are busy accumulating wealth and that there is eternity too.

In the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus tells us about a man who has stored up for himself way too many Earthly treasures, only to find out that His life was to be taken from him soon: ““But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” (Luke 12:20). Sadly this story resonates for most of us who are preoccupied with acquiring wealth and ensuring our future and that of our loved ones. We work too hard just like ants who carry burdens much bigger than their bodies, only to find out that we did not spend enough time with our families, and we did not have time to store up treasures in heaven. 

We have been consumed by the values of this world that calls for over-accumulation of wealth, while dismissing the perils of spiritual bankruptcy. Romans 12:2 reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven and that we should remain on track in our spirituality so that we could live out God’s purpose for us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

We should always remember that no matter how much we save for the future, we can never take these earthly treasures with us when we are gone: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous,” (Proverbs 13:22)

Spiritual investments on the other hand multiply in terms of our eternal life and the lives of our loved ones. If we will just take the time to leave a godly legacy to our children, give them a spiritual home by anchoring their faith in a church community that will feed their souls and encourage them to store up heavenly treasures, then we are all set for eternity. We can peacefully leave them because we know that they will not be fighting over material wealth once we are gone, instead they will continue to be bound together in love and worship to the one true God, who will sustain them and their future. The Gospel of Matthew reminds us: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal,” Matthew 6:19-20)

In the end, the best way to ensure that our children will live good lives long after we are gone, is to introduce them to Jesus. We have to encourage them to have a personal relationship with Him, and we must model the virtues of Christianity that they too can pass on to their own future children.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Luke 12:13-21 and James 5:1-6 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Where do your treasures lay? Have you stored up treasures in heaven?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for encouraging me to seek eternity with you. Allow me to recognize what is more important in life, so that I could enjoy your gift of family and loved ones. I want to bring these wonderful people to you too Lord so help me pass on a godly legacy to them, so we can all enjoy eternal life with you. Amen.