TUESDAY One simple way to determine whether your plans put God — or self — in that “top spot” in your life is to make a list. In one column list the things that are important to you — things you spend your time doing and things you hope to achieve. In the second column decide whether those things are leading you closer to God (God-focused) or driving you away from Him (self-focused). Read Matthew 6:24. Things like education, sports, jobs, friends, homes, cars, electronic gadgets, etc. are all good things but if they become our “master” (what we’re living for), things get out of balance. So what’s most important to you? Can you honestly say God is first in your life and plans? If not, what can you change?
WEDNESDAY Success by the world’s standards is very different from success by God’s standards. If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you’re rich in the truest sense! Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. As always, Jesus is our ultimate example. He was willing to lay it all down and become “poor” to the point of death, so that we could experience forgiveness of sins, know Him in a personal way, and have the hope of a future in heaven. Are we willing to become “poor” by the world’s standards, even risk losing its acceptance and approval, to share the riches of Christ with someone who doesn’t know Him?
THURSDAY Most of us will admit, we like to be comfortable and have nice things, but for a Christian that shouldn’t be our goal, at least not here and now (Heaven comes later!). If we’ve committed our lives to serving God and helping to bring others to Him, we might be called into some situations that are seriously lacking in the comforts and conveniences the world has to offer. I Timothy 6:6 reminds us that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” So ask yourself, “Am I willing to follow God even if it means getting by on just the basics?” Remember, God does not disappoint! He’s got awesome things in store for you.
FRIDAY Matthew 6:19-21, reminds us that our life goals shouldn’t be centered around all the “stuff” the world has to offer, but rather on a treasure that can never be destroyed, broken, or stolen away — our relationship with Him. Does your heart tend to get wrapped up (“stolen away”) by the stuff of earth? Remember, most of that “stuff” ends up at the dump, but people live forever. If your heart’s been stolen away, the Lord can help you get it back — and make it beat for the things that really matter. Will you ask Him today?
SATURDAY All things considered, being rich isn’t always a bad thing, even for a Christian, if God’s will for your life leads you in that direction. But it is important to remember how easily earthly riches can become a distraction. God’s desire is that we seek Him and lead other people to know Him, too. So whether God gives us a lot or God gives us a little, the question we need to ask ourselves is “Am I using what I have for God’s glory or my own? To build His kingdom or mine?” Seek His kingdom FIRST, and you’ll always have everything you need. Check out Paul’s awesome testimony in Philippians 4:11-13.