Holding Wealth with Open Hands

Investing in Eternity

Stewards, Not Owners

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, 

and He will reward them for what they have done.

Proverbs 19:17

Jesus’ teaching repeatedly challenged His hearers to see wealth not as a possession to guard, but as a trust to steward. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). The measure of a godly life is not how much we have, but how much we love—and how that love moves us toward generosity.

John Calvin observed, “We are stewards of those things which God has conferred upon us, and must one day render an account of our stewardship.” This means wealth—whether great or small—is a sacred trust. The question is not, Do I have much or little? but Am I using what I have for God’s purposes?

Tim Keller put it simply: “If your identity is in the money you have, you will always feel pressure to protect it. But if your identity is in Christ, you will be free to give it away.” Wealth can become either a chain or a channel. When it is held tightly, it breeds fear, pride, and self-sufficiency. When held loosely, it becomes a means for blessing, mercy, and Kingdom work.

John Wesley famously counseled believers to “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” His life modeled this principle—living simply so that more could be shared with those in need. He understood that kindness to the poor is kindness to God Himself, as Jesus affirmed: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

The reward God promises in Proverbs 19:17 is not merely material—it is the deep joy of knowing that our resources, surrendered to Christ, are being multiplied for eternal purposes.

Prayer

Lord, help me to see everything I have as Yours. Keep me from clinging to possessions, and free me to be generous toward others—especially the poor. Teach me to hold wealth loosely, to give joyfully, and to treasure heavenly rewards over earthly ones. Amen.

Bearing Fruit in Every Season

 Fresh and Green

“They will still bear fruit in old age, 

they will stay fresh and green,”

Psalm 92:14 

The psalmist paints a vivid picture of the righteous: like palm trees and cedars, they stand strong, rooted, and flourishing—not just in youth, but in the twilight years. This is not merely about physical vitality; it’s about spiritual vibrancy. Even in old age, the righteous can radiate God’s life, offering wisdom, prayer, and love that bless generations.

Recently, my dear old friend from elementary school was on his way to see his 94-year-old mother who had suffered a stroke. I shared with him Isaiah 46:4 (KJV): “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” He told me his mother treasured this verse and had often repeated it over the years. What a beautiful testimony of a life anchored in God’s sustaining promise.

This week, we are going to see Joshua Tree National Park, where some of the oldest Joshua trees have stood for centuries, weathering sun, wind, and drought. They remind us of this psalm’s promise—rooted deep, they stay alive and fruitful in harsh conditions. In the same way, when we are planted in God’s presence, we draw life from Him through every season. The years do not wither us; they deepen us. 

Patrick Miller once wrote that the righteous life “draws its vitality not from human strength but from God’s steadfast love,” reminding us that our ability to remain fruitful is rooted in God’s faithfulness, not our own resilience.

Walter Brueggemann observed that Psalm 92 is a Sabbath psalm—a song for those who have learned the “deep rhythm of trust” that allows them to flourish without striving. In a culture obsessed with youth and productivity, God’s kingdom values ripening wisdom over fading beauty, inner holiness over outward appearance.

Charles Spurgeon encouraged believers: “Those who walk with God in their youth will walk with Him in their age… their last days will be their best days, their evening will be brighter than their noon.” The “fresh and green” life is not about preserving what we had, but about growing deeper in what truly matters—faith, love, hope, and service.

God’s calling for older believers is not retirement from usefulness but renewal in purpose. The church needs their seasoned perspective, steady prayers, and living witness of God’s enduring grace.

Prayer:

Lord, help me grow roots deep in You so that, in every season of life, I may bear fruit that blesses others. Keep me fresh in spirit, green with hope, and rich in love, until my last breath honors You. Amen.

Immanuel God Is With Us

 

“The LORD your God goes with you; 

He will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

Deuteronomy 31:6 

There is no greater comfort than knowing that God is with you. This truth threads its way through all of Scripture—from the cries of the psalmist, to the wisdom of the apostles, to the quiet confidence of saints who have walked this path before us. Whether you are walking through trouble, wrestling with confusion, or standing on the brink of success, God is not distant. He is Immanuel—God with us.

Trouble does not mean God has left us. In fact, it is often in our pain and uncertainty that we encounter His presence most deeply. Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “God is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” Even when life feels chaotic or silent, God is still with us—guiding, comforting, and sustaining.

When we seek understanding, we must remember that spiritual truth isn’t something we grasp by intellect alone—it is revealed through faith. As Oswald Chambers wisely said, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” God rarely gives us the full picture, but He always gives us Himself. Trust, not total clarity, is the foundation of discipleship.

Even success can test our hearts. True success, in God’s eyes, is measured not by achievement but by faithfulness. David didn’t build the temple, yet he made careful preparations so Solomon could. His obedience became a legacy. Likewise, God can take your surrendered ambitions and turn them into blessings that outlive you.

So whatever season you’re in—burdened, bewildered, or blessed—hold fast to this: God is with you. You don’t need to be strong or certain. You need only to trust the One who is. Let your weakness be His strength. Let your story become His glory.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that You are with us in every season. When we walk through trouble, be our refuge. When we lack understanding, give us the mind of Christ. When we succeed, keep us humble and generous. Transform our fear into peace, our confusion into clarity, and our ambitions into blessings that outlive us. Amen.

 

Sheltered by the Almighty

  

Perfected in Weakness

“I will say of the LORD, 

‘He is my refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust.’” 

Psalm 91:2

There are seasons when we feel completely out of our depth — overwhelmed by life, unsure what to say or do, and weary in soul. Yet it’s in those very places of vulnerability that God draws closest. He doesn’t wait for us to become stronger. He calls us to surrender, to trust Him, and to declare with confidence: “He is my refuge… my God, in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “God does not need your strength; He has plenty of that of His own. He asks for your weakness—He has none of that.” What a striking reversal of our usual thinking. We often imagine that God wants our best performance—our competence and perfection. But Spurgeon reminds us: God is not short on strength. He is not calling the strong to assist Him but inviting the weak to lean on Him.

Why would God want our weakness? Because it becomes the very vessel through which His power is revealed. As Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Weakness surrendered to God becomes strength. Inability makes room for divine intervention. Humility invites His glory.

God has no weakness, but in grace, He meets us in ours. He doesn’t reject our doubts, fears, or fatigue. He receives them—and transforms them. When we say, “You are my refuge,” it’s not a boast of self-reliance, but a confession of dependence.

The world may admire self-made strength, but the gospel teaches us to boast in the cross. “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31). So bring Him not your résumé or perfect record. Offer your weakness, and place it in His hands. For it’s there—only there—that His power is made perfect.

God is your refuge. God is your fortress. Trust Him.

Prayer:

Lord, we come to You today not in strength, but in surrender. You are our refuge when we feel afraid, our fortress when we feel attacked, and our God when we feel alone. Help us to trust You, speak Your name with confidence, and walk in the assurance that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Amen.

Is Christ Divided?

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? 

Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

 1 Corinthians 1:13 

The Corinthian church had everything going for it: passionate believers, vibrant worship, and abundant spiritual gifts. Yet amid their blessings, Paul saw something deeply troubling—division. Groups had formed, each claiming allegiance to a different leader: “I follow Paul”… “I follow Apollos”… “I follow Cephas”… “I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12). What began in admiration spiraled into tribalism. And Paul’s piercing question still echoes today: “Is Christ divided?”

Paul wasn’t scolding them for honoring their teachers—Apollos and Peter were faithful men of God. The problem was that the Corinthians were exalting human leaders above the One who alone deserves our allegiance: Jesus Christ.

Unity is not uniformity, but it is grounded in one unshakable truth: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Christ alone was crucified for us. Christ alone saves us. The church belongs to Him—not to pastors, authors, traditions, or denominations.

John Stott once wrote, “The church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God… Divisions among God’s people detract from the beauty of God’s plan.” When we divide over personalities or preferences, we fracture the witness of the gospel. But when we unite around Jesus, the world sees His love displayed in real time.

Jesus prayed, “that all of them may be one, Father… so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21). In a world torn by division, the Church’s unity becomes its most compelling testimony that Jesus is real, that He was sent by the Father, and that His love is unlike anything else on earth. We are never more faithful to His mission than when we live as one.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are not divided. Forgive me when I make too much of human leaders and too little of You. Help me to remember that You alone are the cornerstone of the Church. Unite us by Your Spirit and make us one, so that the world may believe You were sent by the Father. Amen.

Monday to Glory:

Finding God in the Workweek

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; 

establish the work of our hands for us

—yes, establish the work of our hands.” 

Psalm 90:17 

Work is one of the most enduring aspects of our lives. Whether in offices, homes, hospitals, classrooms, or fields, much of our waking life is spent “at work.” The psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 90:17 reminds us that this work—though often unnoticed or exhausting—matters deeply to God.

In my grandfather’s home, the prayer room had words carved in wood above the entrance: “Ora et Labora”—“Pray and Work.” Over the years, that simple phrase has become deeply meaningful for our family. It captures a beautiful biblical rhythm: that prayer is not separate from work, but that both are meant to flow together in a life of devotion. Our hands and hearts belong to God alike.

Eugene Peterson once wrote, “The Bible insists on a perspective in which all of life, including the workplace, is holy, where all of life is lived before God and for God.” There is no divide between sacred and secular when we live in the presence of God. Like David dancing before the Ark or Paul commending the women and men who worked hard “in the Lord,” our daily labor becomes worship when offered in faith.

Richard Foster reminds us, “In the kingdom of God, no task is too small. God takes great delight in taking seemingly insignificant acts and using them for His purposes.” Whether answering emails, washing dishes, or comforting a friend—when done in love, our labor bears eternal fruit.

The Bible reminds us that we were created “to the praise of [God’s] glory” (Ephesians 1:12). Patrick Miller wrote, “Work, when rightly oriented, is a form of praise—an act of bearing witness to the Creator who still works among us.” The God who labored in creation and rested on the seventh day calls us to imitate Him—to work and to pray, to sow and to trust, to labor and to worship. When our work aligns with God’s purposes, it becomes more than duty—it becomes doxology.

So we pray with the psalmist: “Lord, establish the work of our hands.” We do not labor alone. God receives our efforts, sanctifies them, and brings about lasting good through them—sometimes in ways far beyond what we see.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of work and the rhythm of work and prayer. Help us offer all we do today as worship. Whether seen or unseen, may our labor bring You joy. Establish the work of our hands and let it bless others, now and for generations to come. Amen.

Reverence and Blessing

Living Before the Presence of God

“The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.” — 1 Chronicles 13:14 

When David became king, his first desire was to bring the Ark of the Covenant—God’s symbolic presence—back to Jerusalem. But the attempt ended in tragedy when the Ark was mishandled. Uzzah’s irreverent touch cost him his life (1 Chronicles 13:9–10), showing that God’s presence is holy and must not be treated casually.

Yet when the Ark was placed in the home of Obed-Edom, who honored it, “the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.” Reverence brought joy and flourishing. This story may seem distant, but it speaks directly to our daily lives. Like David, we all make decisions—about our work, relationships, and priorities. When David inquired of the Lord before battle, he was victorious (1 Chronicles 14:10, 14). His strength came not from strategy but from seeking God’s guidance.

As Eugene Peterson put it, “We don’t invite God into our lives so He can do our bidding. He is God—we are not.”Our relationship with Him is not about using His power to fulfill our plans, but about surrendering to His will and aligning our hearts with His purposes. When we forget this, we risk treating His presence as a tool instead of a treasure—seeking blessings without bowing in reverence.

As ordinary people, we are called to treat God’s presence with reverence, not routine. We invite His blessing when we approach Him with awe, pray before making choices, and shape our homes as places where God is honored.

Matthew Henry reminds us, “Those are best prepared for public services who begin with private devotions.” Our homes, conversations, and small choices matter. God’s presence isn’t reserved for kings and prophets—it’s available to each of us through the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to honor Your presence daily. May my life, my words, and my home reflect a reverence that welcomes Your blessing. Lead me in all I do. Amen.