Every car salesman knows human nature. He has a sticker price on the window. What he hopes to get in a sale. He also has a sales price which is his lowest price for a profit. One way salesman are able to pull us into the deal is describing the options on the vehicle. Leave a couple options off your “wish list” and the price can go down. If we’re in the market for another vehicle we hope to negotiate a better price.
In a similar way, we can imagine God is a heavenly “car salesman” of sorts. God wants to convince us, heaven is our forever home. He wants to help us focus and invest our future in heavenly things. But this is where things get conflicted. It feels like God is competing with us for our time, talent, and treasure we accumulate here, on earth.
It’s just human nature. If you’re a kid, 8 years old, having a great time, outside playing, try yanking them off the swing, to wash up, and come inside for supper. We somehow put together a lot of stuff to enjoy on earth; heaven becomes a home faraway; way in the future. So, we plead with our heavenly Father, like we’re telling mom, “Give me just a few more minutes.”
We are rascals, all of us. God says so (Romans 3:23). We are looking for a better deal, so, we try to negotiate with God. We want to consider our “options,” so to speak. We want to build our worth and wealth to enjoy on earth. This negotiation seems to work; until the stock market crashes, or a cancer diagnosis, or the lost job. Then we begin to be anxious.
Join us this weekend at Journey Church Cynthiana. We are in part-two of the three part series, The Treasure Principle. Jesus again has an interesting and insightful story; we look at a very successful fellow. He made a lot of riches on some big, fertile farmland. He built big barns and needed more. This wealthy farmer was on track to keep building personal wealth. And then, without warning, his life ended. Check out the parable of Jesus in Luke 12:15-21.
At the end of the parable Jesus describes the self-made, greedy rich man as being foolish! The warning: filling barns and bank accounts for SELF only is not smart. God is not going to negotiate our home in heaven on our terms. Jesus warns, we have to balance our earthly time, building riches and wealth, with investing our time, talent, and treasure also in heavenly things above.
Like an 8 year old who doesn’t yet know how to balance play time and suppertime, we need a little help. This is where Jesus is for us. He is patient, loving, and kind, wanting what is best for each of us. He wants us to learn: Our life is not about STUFF. What REALLY matters this year? Growing our relationship with God and people. This is the “option” we need most!
Bring a seat buddy. Help someone bring a little balance into their present and future, forever life in heaven. Explain how we’re learning: life is NOT about stuff!
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