Christian Living

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Our life-ship carries our treasures. "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious" (Prov. 12:27). Guard those treasures and lay up heavenly treasures. These riches are durable and do not fade away. Thieves cannot steal them from us. Moths will not eat holes in them. They will never rust.

The wise sailor takes cares of her treasures. With them she buys good building materials. She waterproofs her life-ship so that it will not sink.

She honors her Captain with her substance. When it comes in, she tithes and gives an offering to missions. She helps with other expenses when she can.

First, she yields herself to the Lord. "What shall I give?" she asks the Captain. Then in her heart she plans her giving. She lays aside this part with a cheerful and willing heart, not with an attitude, "I have to do this. Now I cannot buy what I want."

God blesses her life with all she needs. Sometimes, the Captain gives extra for her desires. She rejoices in His bountiful supply.

She has given herself to the Lord. She lets her Captain direct her life-ship. She lays up heavenly treasures. She helps in the church kitchen or nursery. She enjoys doing her part to keep the building clean. She may teach a Sunday School class, sing in the choir or play a musical instrument. She rejoices when she tells others about her Captain and hands out tracts.

When the Captain blesses her building, He makes her rich, and causes her no sorrow. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:19-21). She lays up treasures in heaven.

Those who sail in pirate ships seek treasures. Often, they raid another ship. The Captain says, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45).

Watch out for those pirates! They will rob us of the good treasures of your heart. Then, like the pirates, we will get hung up on the coral reefs. When we fix our heart on earthly treasures, evil treasures bring forth evil.

Set your heart upon heavenly treasures, and you will reap rich rewards. Moth and rust will not harm your ship. Pirates cannot rob you of these treasures. Proverbs 10:22 says, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Things can turn around for a bad sailor. Perhaps, she heard the gospel in her childhood. Someone gave her a gospel tract. She finds the tract and reads it. "Lord, I am a terrible sinner. Please forgive me. Take away my sins. Lord, Thou didst shed Thy blood for me. I take Thee now as my Saviour. Show me what to do." God will save the worst sinner. Now the Captain can start blessing her.

Then He will provide for her needs. Sometimes, the Captain even gives us our wants above our basic needs.

Excerpt from Lynn's book, Our Lifeship: Studies in Proverbs for Women, © 2008, Lynn Wallace. See her website, www.writingfrommyheart.com for her bio, more information about her book, and speaking.

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