"Give and Take"

"Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them." (Psalms 39:6) Part of me wants to enjoy all that this world has to offer, and part of me wants nothing to do with any of it; after all, there are some good things to be said for the lap of luxury, but it comes with a price; unfortunately, that price can sometimes be more than we can pay in this life. In Luke 9:62, Jesus is speaking about God's kingdom being first in our lives, and sums it up by saying that it must be first, saying, "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God". It is more a matter of where our heart belongs to, and what matters more to us, this life in which we are to die to, or that which we are to plow ahead into; because there are so many things to focus on as we are plowing ahead, just as there are for a farmer to plow his rows straight and uniform. There is a reason for the lines to be straight and uniform, besides that they look good, they also function well for getting sunlight and irrigation throughout the entire crop; just as we must focus upon every area of our lives, that we do not fail in any category, but that in all things we are well equip to stand. There are so many things in this life that can grab our attention; some of them can grab too much of our attention, so much so, that we can neglect other parts of our lives, including those that attain to our walk and our abiding in the Lord. As I was driving to church the other morning, I saw a black Jeep coming off the freeway, which had written across the top of it's windshield, "Go Prepared", in big bold letters. The way that we prepare for heaven is by sowing in the things towards heaven; whether that be in the giving of our time and resources, or the taking back those things that have been stolen from the enemy; either way, we are storing up treasure in heaven, and we are gaining treasure that will survive being tested in the fire; because all that is done for this life will surely burn up, but all that is done for heaven will last forever... "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)