“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” v21

The Parable of the Rich Fool (found only in Luke) starts with a man asking Jesus to help him gain a share of an inheritance (presumably because he is not either entitled or in-line to receive a portion).  Jesus responds with the parable which contains a warning that we must be prepared for Satan to grab hold of our soul should we worship wealth and money.  In the warning, Jesus contrasts focus on wealth and money versus being "rich towards God".  

John Piper has a great post on these very words.

Jesus, please help me avoid focus on money and wealth and help me a good steward of the blessings You have entrusted with me. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an awesome God and You have always met my needs - I need not worry.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving because I do worry - about money and about my kids, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. v5

Indeed, I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  Family, friends, provision, health, etc. Most importantly, I have a God that loves me more than anyone on earth ever can...and my God died for me so that I would not be slave to my sin but instead would have eternal life.  God has been so full of grace, compassion, patience, mercy, etc. for me...again...even though I am not deserving of such blessings.  The Lord provides. 

Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. Deuteronomy 9:6

See also here.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it [abundantly (ESV)] to the full. John 10:10

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, without a doubt You are God that blesses His children abundantly...even when we think we are not being blessed we are...the blessings overflow as David writes.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worth such blessings...I am too easily distracted by the world and I too often "conform to the patterns of this world".  Forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. v9

I know, in the moment, that I am rich...in all ways...with Christ I am rich.  I should be thankful for ALL that He provides...the list is long!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Also:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

My Prayer:  Lord, I KNOW I have it good...even with the trial of Lisa's cancer....there is richness and abundance everywhere...like a great mammogram report that cancer is not in the lymph nodes...that we have so many people praying for us, encouraging, helping us...etc.  God is great in all ways...all the time.  I am not deserving of such blessing!  I worry far too much.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.