Tuesday

December 18, 2018

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

(Luke 8:14 KJV)

A legend tells the story of a fisherman called Aaron. Aaron lived on the banks of a river. Walking home with his eyes half-closed one evening after a hard day's work, he was dreaming of what he could do if he were rich. As he walked his foot struck against a leather pouch filled with what seemed to him to be small stones. Absent mindedly he picked up the pouch and began throwing the pebbles into the water. 'When I am a rich man,' he said to himself, 'I'll have a large house'. And he threw another pebble into the river. He threw another one and thought, 'My wife and I will have servants and rich food, and many fine things'. And this went on until just one stone was left. As Aaron held it in his hand, a ray of light caught it and made it sparkle. He was not throwing ordinary stones but valuable gems, throwing away the real riches in his hand, while he dreamed of unreal riches in the future.'

As Christians, we have been given the riches of God’s grace, the wealth of God’s kingdom, and the benefits of the Lord’s peace.  Too often however, we fritter it away while pursuing the elusive treasure and satisfaction of this world.  Like our text illustrates, we have been given the real prosperity of the gospel, but we are “choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life…”  Rather than longing for that which will never satisfy, we should be content with the gems in the bag that God has given to us lest we look back on our lives like the fisherman in our illustration, and realize that we have thrown true wealth away.

Parting Thought

The value of the kingdom of God is before us if we will realize it.