Where is your heart? We often struggle with what is valuable and what is not. Faith’s riches are not found in the material things we acquire. Yet we are so tempted to buy in the philosophy “he who has the most toys wins.” In Hebrews 11:26 we are reminded that Moses, “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” To often we live for the here and now over the long range and eternal. We want what brings us the immediate pleasure over what is designed to bring us the greatest long term gain. For example, most people are looking forward to retirement, but according to studies, the average American is not saving toward retirement. Reason: They are not willing to sacrifice the immediate pleasures, for the long term goals. Moses was willing not only to give up the temporal, but also to plan for the eternal. I read once, “You can not take anything with you, but you can send some things before you.” My friends, may you live with the goal of pleasing God now. Doing so is only possible if you remember not to sacrifice the long term goals for short term pleasures.
