Last week, we heard of the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. She was the longest-serving monarch of the United Kingdom having reigned for 70 years. This week, these devotionals will be reflections on what we can learn from loss.
“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. ‘But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” (Psalms 39:6-7)
“I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners’ (Ecclesiastes 5:13)
The death of The Queen reminds us to invest our lives in things that are of true worth. The Queen seemed to have some understanding of this when she said in 2008:
“I hope that, like me, you will be comforted by the example of Jesus of Nazareth who, often in circumstances of great adversity, managed to live an outgoing, unselfish and sacrificial life … He makes it clear that genuine human happiness and satisfaction lie more in giving than receiving; more in serving than in being served.”
As we read in the Bible, if we are not careful and wise, we can rush around heaping up wealth…Hoarding wealth to our harm…storing up perishing treasure. Many of us seek or actually hoard wealth to our harm and so become distracted, complacent and prayer-less. We become vain and waste money on our appearance and status. When we realise that we can’t take it with us we are sobered and restrained. The Bible teaches us:
“Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.” (Ecclesiastes 5:15)
The Queen has taken nothing with her except the reward that God gives for the works she did for Him. How does God want you and I to invest the few years, talents and resources that we have? We can carry nothing in our hands. However, God can carry what we have done for Him into eternal reward. Death and loss make us realise that we need to and, indeed, can store up eternal treasure through our loving faithful service of Jesus. Jesus teaches us:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
RESPONSE
Loss and grief are a way of prizing our hearts from tinsel to true treasure. How will you invest your time, talents and treasures? Will you serve yourself? Will you serve God, His people, and the community and so store up true treasure?
TOGETHER IN SEPTEMBER
During September 2022, at CCP, we are having 'Together' meetings instead of our usual Community Groups. You are very welcome to attend these gatherings.
Please come to the church building at 7:30 pm on Wednesday evenings - refreshments and a meal will be available.