Christian Living

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ARE YOUR POCKETS HOLY OR HOLEY?

By Chuck Johnson


There are a lot of people today who are quick to give their hearts to God. However, they are not quite as eager to give Him their wallets or checkbooks. This reflects an underlying uncertainty that God will meet their needs or will allow them to possess the earthly treasures they feel they deserve. This may be due in part to their misplaced knowledge of who their real source is. They may also be unread in the scriptures when it comes to God's requirement on them where stewardship is required.

First of all we must realize that our job is not our source. God is our source. Our job is simply the vehicle God has chosen to use for the moment. When you understand this truth, then you worry less about circumstances. Your employer may be on shaky ground, however you personally can be on the solid Rock, Christ Jesus. The stock market may be plummeting, but you have laid up for yourself treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust don't destroy (Matthew 6:20).

We are told in Luke 12:13-34 that a rich man thought only of his earthly possessions. His focus was on all he had and how much more he could get. He gave no thought to tomorrow (his eternal account balance). And the story goes on to say, that the very same night his soul would be required of him. He left this present world and all of his earthly treasures for someone else to enjoy and entered eternity, where his account was empty. We are told not to seek after the things of this world; "seek the kingdom of God and all of these things will be added unto you" (Luke 12:31).

Another area we need to be cautious about is caring for our own homes at the expense of God's house. In Haggai 1:4-7 the story is told of God's house lying in ruin, while the people took care of (remodeled and redecorated) their own homes. The result was that they ate yet were not filled; they drank, and yet their thirst was not quenched; they clothed themselves and were not warm, and they worked for wages, that they put into pockets with holes in them.

I remember a story sometime ago about how a jungle tribe would catch monkeys by boring a hole in a hollowed out log. They would then fill it with nuts. The monkeys loved the nuts, so they would reach in and grab a handful. The only problem was, that with their hand full they couldn't pull it out, making them easy prey for their captors. They were so afraid of losing what they had hold of, that they didn't realize the greater loss that was eminent. Do you hold so tightly to what you have, that your captor (greed) ensnares you? God is looking for people He can trust with His riches - not to hold on to them but rather to be a conduit that He can pass His riches through to meet a multitude of needs.

God gives to those whom He can trust. He will not let you have riches, if He knows that the riches will have you. The difference in functions between a bucket and a watering can is that one is filled up to hold water, and the other is filled up to be poured out and then refilled. One has a limited capacity, the other an unlimited capacity. Which will you choose to be like? God is not looking for "buckets". He is looking for "watering cans".

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