by John Thomas
We see many examples of God's people being blessed beyond measure. The problem comes when we try to store it up for ourselves.
Think of the finest linen or carpet you could possibly have. Now think about what kind of place you could safely store that fine linen. Where would it be safe? When it is stored, it is more likely to be ruined than anywhere else!
The rich man ( Luke 12:13-34) did not have trouble until he decided he didn't have enough storage room at his house. Have we ever had that problem? He tore down the old storage barn and built a bigger and better one. You should keep your assets moving! Keep them working. When you store them, they begin to rot!
The same thing happens with our talents when we bury them. We get into trouble when we try to keep them to ourselves and bury them for "safe keeping." We may have to answer for things we keep in "safes." We need to be multiplying our talents, not storing them. Luke 12:34 and Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We should treasure things we can't store! James 5:1-6 paints a picture of garments that have been laid up for storage and eaten by moths and also gold and silver that have corrupted. There is a warning against heaping up treasures in the last days. Matthew 6:19-21 "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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
What I see in these verses is not a problem with having things. The problem comes when we love those things or when we put those things ahead of God's things. The problem comes about when we store up those things so that we can see our abundance! The problem is not with having things, but storing them with no intention of using them! God's blessings are meant to be used, not stored! Things are like the lucky penny in the old song, "hold on tight and you won't have any; give it away and you'll have plenty, you'll end up having more!"