"Making it Real"

 "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he received them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth." (Hebrews 7:8 KJV)

  "Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this, Martha?" "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."" (John 11:21-27 NLT)

 Happy to be done with that, as it was hard to express something that seems difficult to understand; much like the phrase I expressed, "without all contradiction." which basically means dispute or opposition. As we have several things which cause strife within the church, some of which are very hard to argue, while others, like the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, many will not agree; that is, until it happens! 

 I heard a rumor that Dr. Martin changed his mind before his death, believing that there would be a Mid-Tribulation Rapture. Not sure if that is true or not, because I had several of his books, and had quite a lot of respect for his writings against cults and false teachings. 

 As we see today, Martha has a little contradiction going on in her own heart; having felt as though Jesus should have been there, it was not really right that things went the way they turned out. How often do we think that? How often do we worry about things that already have happened! 

 I took my wife to the movies yesterday and watched "Soul on Fire." The best part of that movie was the question asked, "Would you do it differently, if you had a chance?" If you are really sure that God makes all things work towards the good, then all things must include those things that seem very bad and hurtful! Sometimes we must get broken before we can get healed: as if we aren't already broken, from the time that we were born! 

 We know from the story, Jesus knew all alone what He was doing; yet everyone, including His disciples had no clue of what was going on. God has a plan for every one of us, some of which will happen based upon very difficult times and accuracies, while others will go down an easy road, without much trouble at all. 

 Which one will have the greatest adventure? I guess we just wait and find out in the end...

"Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies? Interlude "You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him." (PSALM 4:1-3 NLT) 

"Blessed by the Best" - 2

 "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." (Hebrews 7:7 KJV)

  ""And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven." Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them." (Luke 24:49-50 NLT)

 With all that, 'without all contradiction,' let me try and show how we might fit into that character, which only can happen with a new heart! Yes, there is no other way that we have the ability to do any of those things Jesus spoke about in those parables; much like, "The Cost of Following Jesus," those who will walk away in order to serve Him, will most likely lose their way! 

 To put it in a different way: If and when we find Christ, it will be because we were led to Him by the Father! We could be in any sort of condition: looking or giving up or doing something that is totally wrong; you name it, there really is no certain condition for us to be in, but whatever it is, it is where you needed to be, and it is what God will use to cause you to listen!

 If you don't remember what or when, then I am sorry you can't recall when He changed your heart, which is something that happens rather instantly; we don't grow into a new heart on our own! That said, we can rather easily harden our hearts and even cause it to be calloused, which basically means that we grow spiritually dull. 

 Without getting too carried away, let me just come out and say it: The Holy Spirit is what gives us the power to give up all we have and surrender our lives to follow Jesus; it is by the Spirit that we have the ability to love as we ought to; something that is almost impossible for us to do, without failing, as must do as the Spirit leads us.

 In other words, it is not that we would sell all that we have, in order to gain Christ; Christ comes into our heart first, and then we are equip with the desire to follow Him! We don't work or buy our way to the cross of Christ, but we do have to pick up our cross and follow Him...

"As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go." But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head." He said to another person, "Come follow me." The man agreed, but he said, "Lord, first let me return home and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God." Another said, "Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family." But Jesus told him, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."" (Luke 9:57-62 NLT) 

"Blessed by the Best"

 "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." (Hebrews 7:7 KJV)

  "For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." (Colossians 1:19-22 NLT)

 Before I go any further, I must confirm that anyone reading this understands the point of God being the character in the parable of the buried treasure and the great pearl. Besides the fact that it is God who saves us, we have no ability to save ourselves, it is God's grace that causes Him to reach down and wake us up from the dead! He is the one that finds us! Oh, He knows where we are, all the time; but He is the one that waits for us to be in just the right place, at just the right time, and He uses that moment to save us!

 You might have a different understanding of how you were saved; as we all can try to believe it was our choice to look for Him; but when we really take an honest evaluation of what we were like and what we really were looking for, we will discover that it was God that choose us, not us that choose Him!

 Anywho, if we can start to get real about the unstoppable love that God has for us, we can really start to understand why we owe Him so much. We can never outgive God; nor can we ever serve Him enough! Nothing we do can ever repay the price that God paid for us...

""That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand."" (Matthew 13:13 NLT) 

"The Heart of Gold"

 "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises." (Hebrews 7:6 KJV)

  "Dear brothers and sisters, here's an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn't say "to his children," as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says "to his child" - and that, of course, means Christ. This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made to Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God's promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise." (Galatians 3:15-18 NLT)

 Having been doing this for almost 15 years, you would think by now I would have better control on the things I might write about; as it is, I sometimes just go with whatever I feel that God is showing or telling me to type. Sometimes I don't even know what it means, at least not until I hear or see something happen that explains what God was saying or showing me. 

 This might seem a little bit complicated, but I am sure that there will be some that totally understand what it is that I have been trying to say. When we have accepted the promise, in the case of eternal life in Christ, we have been given something that cannot be revoked; it is irrevocable! As it was, with the parable of the buried treasure and the great pearl, it was God who was the one that gave all that He had to make this all happen! 

 We might not totally understand that, just because everything belongs to God in the first place; but when the Father gave His one and only Son, to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, He was giving His all to make us His treasure! Without Christ's death on that cross, we were unholy and incomplete; but by the Father's love to see us holy and complete, He gave the most precious thing He had, in order to have us live in His presence...

"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God themself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega - the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children."" (Revelation 21:3-7 NLT)  

"From the Heart" - Too

 "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:" (Hebrews 7:5 KJV)

  "God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm. God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For all of the kings of the earth belong to God. He is highly honored everywhere." (PSALM 47:5-9 NLT)

 Forgetting all of the things that might cause us to have doubt, we must trust in God to do whatever it is that He is speaking into our hearts; even if it might not seem possible, that is when we must realize that God works in ways that we can't or won't! Eventually, God will have His way in our lives; if you really are His child, He will make a way for you to surrender. 

 There are several different examples of that in the Bible; many of them to look at, if you just open up your heart and see the wonders of the way He works. I know that it might seem strange to think that God makes us do anything, as if we are puppets; but there really is difference between those who are called and those who are chosen. 

 With that, I do really believe that God is doing a special work in our world, one where lines and being drawn, in several different directions. Some of the things that are going on right now, both in this land and throughout the earth, are the things which separate the good from the bad, and the evil from the wicked. This is real enough to start paying attention and start praying for the ones you love that they don't go in the wrong direction.  

 Need I say more? No, I don't think so, because God is already speaking to hearts all around the world, saying, "Will you open the door and let me in"...

""I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot or cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, 'I am rich, I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me - gold that has been purified in the fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference."

 ""Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne."

""Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches."" (REVELATION 3:15-22 NLT) 

"From the Heart"

 "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:" (Hebrews 7:5 KJV)

  "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:17 NLT)

 Making this take on something a little more interesting, thanks to everything God has done in order to make us His precious treasure, we have an obligation to shine as if we really are His treasure; not so much because we must, but because we should. There are two parables that Jesus spoke about, the one about the buried treasure, and the other about the great pearl: both of which have been shown by some to be us, finding God, and then giving up all we have to have Him. 

 Well, as Pastor Bryan said Sunday, "Let's see, The Rest of the Story!" In Matthew 13:37 - 51, Jesus is sharing about three specific things, that all show the Kingdom of Heaven, as to what it is like; primarily, it is showing us what God makes it to be, based upon those of us who make up His Kingdom. Right in the middle of the wheat and the weeds, and sorting of the fish, Jesus describes the buried treasure and great pearl. 

 Something to think about, because there is a powerful point to what Jesus is showing us, about how much the Father loves us...

"All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all."   

"Obligatory" - To

"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Hebrews 7:4 KJV)

  "The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (PSALM 121:5-8 NLT)

 Just to keep this real, if we really trust God will do everything that He has promised, then we need to be very sure that we trust in Him, with all our heart, not forgetting that He more than able! As it is, doubt is only something that causes us to surrender all and trust Him even more!  

 Right now, I am reading the Book of Job. I have probably read that Book at least two-dozen times or more, but now I am reading out loud, because I am reading it to my wife. We are currently going through the whole Bible, a chapter at a time, and reading it out loud has brought out certain things that I really never saw before.

 Chapters 13 & 14 are a bit much, as those are the ones where Job wants to argue his case with God! As much as I might have something to complain about, I don't think I have enough to argue about it with God; but then again, I also feel sorry for Job, knowing full well that he was being tested. 

 There are several times in the Bible when we see God testing someone; Abraham is one in particular, as God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Yet, God told Abraham very specifically that Isaac was the child through whom his descendants would be counted. (Genesis 21:12) So either Abraham believed that God would change His mind, or that God would raise Isaac back to life again; either way, God was testing Abraham's belief in Him and His promises.

 Not that I think God was testing me, because I have been the one who made the choice to give what I give; besides that, in Job's case, it was the devil that caused this to happen to Job; God allowed it to happen, because God knows how it turns out! Do you believe that? Can you receive that? More than anything else, I believe God knows everything we are going to do, even before we think about doing it, He has it all planned out, as to what to do about it!

 In that case, this new word, "Obligatory," has another meaning, which is, "to give to someone as his own." If that doesn't make you think about it, how about: "to give one to someone to whom he already belonged, to return." Oh my, the things we think are ours, really don't belong to us...

"The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him." (PSALM 24:1 NLT)   

"Obligatory"

 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Hebrews 7:4 KJV)

  "I look up to the mountains - does my help come from them? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!" (PSALM 121:1-2 NLT)

 Yes, we are learning a new word today; or at least I am! Seems to be that I have been having some sort of doubt about my tithing, as if there might be a chance that I am giving too much. But in reality, my issue is something more, as it is, there is something or someone else that matters much more than any amount of money! 

 Now about this word, "Obligatory," which is taken from one of the meanings of the word, "gave," in the verse that I am sharing on today. Basically, the word is one that means '"to give what is due" much like if you owe someone wages or a reward. In other words, there is an obligation involved in this giving, not that you are forced or have been given a command, but that it is what you have said in your heart that you would do! 

 Looking at it that way, it is more of a promise, than it is a requirement; although, a requirement is still the reason that you can overrule the doubt...

"Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever." For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you." (2 Corinthians 9:6-10 NLT)

"Worship in Giving"

  "Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Isreal, who are descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

 " The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. In addition, we might even say that these Levites - the ones who collect the tithe - paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. For although Levi wasn't born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham's body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him." (Hebrews 7:4-10 NLT)

  "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:17-21 KJV)

 Having said those things yesterday morning, I had to wonder if I might have said too much, having no real knowledge of most of what was said. Then again, I really do believe that our God is much bigger than we might think! Hopefully that doesn't make anyone concerned over the certain characteristics of God they might have imagined, because from what I have been told, God is over all and in all! 

 With that, I just need to remember that He has the power to take, just as He has the power to give! We shouldn't think that our giving goes for the church or to any particular people, because what we give is sign of worship to God. As a matter of fact, when God said that He was cheated, as it says in Malachi 3:8, it wasn't for the money that He was cheated, because everything is already His! 

 No, my dear brothers and sisters, if we cheat God for anything, it is our ability to be blessed by Him...

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:17-24 KJV)  

"Beyond All of That!"

 "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:3 KJV)

  "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." (John 1:14 NLT)

 If we really think about it, there is really nothing in this world that has more value than the salvation we have in Christ. It really doesn't matter how rich or poor we are; whether we live or die; whatever state or condition we might living in, or how hard the road is that we travel. Nothing else is more important than the life we have been given Christ Jesus! 

 There are certain things that are hard to explain, one of which is all of the characters and manifestations of Jesus Christ. The simple way to try and understand it, is to follow John's lead, which is that Jesus is and was the Word of God! Which, for our simple and limited understanding is actually that, a manifestation, whether it be light, or word, or any other object of the presence or character of God.

 Not that He isn't God, because the Bible clearly says that He is, but that He will manifest Himself to be whatever He needs to be; whatever the Father requires, He can and will make it happen. That is really just what it appears to be; God is much more than anything we could ever imagine. I have shared on this before, about the magnification of brain cells, and how, if magnified enough, it has the appearance of what looks like the universe.

 Imagine that, if the universe was just a brain cell of God; and here we are, living inside His head! Okay, I know that sounds crazy and beyond all possibilities; but I do believe that we serve a very Big God; bigger and greater than we could ever imagine...

"John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'" From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us." (John 1:15-18 NLT) 

"The Tithe" - Too

 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Hebrews 7:2 KJV) 

  "While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. "I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."" (Luke 21:1-4 NLT)

 I'm sure everyone is familiar with this, "The Widow's Mites," as it has been shared over and over, in just about every church, all around the world. It gives two very important illustrations, the fact that God really does bless a person that gives generously, and secondly, giving really is a form of worship! 

 As for that closing Scripture from yesterday's post, we really need to understand that God does give and take away! If we so arrogantly think that we make things happen on our own, as if our work is what makes us successful and prosperous, we really need to think again, because God is the source of all life and He blesses those who bless others, and He can take away from those that don't! 

 There was one lesson I learned from that book, "Your Money Matters," that God really does care how we give; that those who are cheerful givers, actually do get blessed, even if it isn't financially. Blessings come in several different ways, but giving cheerfully does more than just please God, it is a celebration in our heart to what God has given! 

 Should every Christian tithe? That would be wonderful if they did! You would be surprised by the percentage of Christian's that don't actually tithe. The largest percentage of giver's only give what they feel that they can afford, without even considering what they should give, they just give a small portion of what they make. 

 Surprisingly, if it doesn't go towards the church, it will be given to the devil! If you haven't heard that before, then you have not been paying attention to certain sermons on giving, which most people will do, as soon as hear the message is about tithes and offerings. 

 If you don't believe it, then consider the things that take away from you, like your car breaking down, or anything else that will waste your money. Take a moment to think about what you should have given, and compare that to what was wasted; chances are, they will most likely equal out...

""Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! "But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me, You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring your tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, and I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies."" (Malachi 3:8-11 NLT) 

"The Tithe"

 "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Hebrews 7:2 KJV) 

  "Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT)

 I will try to be gentle in this, somewhat private message, about giving ten percent of your wages to God. As it is, there are some who say and believe that tithing is not necessary for a Christian, because we are not under the law of Moses. Well, as deep as that subject might be, it was Abraham that first established the tithe, as we can see here in this Scripture above. And why did he give ten percent of all that he had gained; because he knew that he was in the presence of the KING! 

 There are some things that I might fail to do, not on purpose, but just because I sometimes don't think before I speak. The one thing I am very serious about is tithing, which is something I learned about in our pre-marital counseling, back in 1982. We were given several books to read, one which was about money and giving. It was a book called, "Your Money Matters", which basically means, that your money really matters to God! 

 It's not that God needs your money, because He has everything already; everything belongs to God, even our very breath is His; nothing is ours, as we came into this world naked, and naked we will leave. That said, He loves to see us give, because it is giving honor and thanks to Him for what He has done! In other words, the money we have made, is money that He has allowed us to have.

 I know that there are some who think that they earned everything themselves, as if it was because they are so good at what they do, or as if they have built something from nothing. But the honest truth is plainly seen in the final result: You don't have a single cent when you leave...

"Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!" ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?' "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."" (Luke 12"13-21 NLT)