You Don’t Have To Settle For Second Best!

The story of the man with a changed heart.

We know that money is important and without it, your life can be very miserable. But sometimes when you have a lot of money, your life can also be miserable. So how do you strike the balance?

Many people work so hard to get to a position of wealth so they can be self-sufficient, but in the process something happens to them and their quest for wealth can sometimes be at the expense of the ones they love the most. They could lose their family and their friends.

They say money is a means to an end, but often it becomes an end in itself. When money controls the person, they end up being miserable and losing what is most precious to them. Can you think of three people in your life who have tried so hard to gain wealth but have become very self absorbed and conceited because they think money can buy them everything, including wealth and friends? What do they have to show? Can you list three things?

1 —>

2 —>

3 —>

That is often the case with most people; they gain everything but they lose the most important thing. So, do you envy them for what they have or what they have lost?

In the Bible we read about the wise man in the Old Testament; his name was King Solomon. He had all the wealth, all the riches and everything his heart desired but he was not happy. Why is that? When you think about it, it’s a very sad state of affairs.

We also read another story in the New Testament about a man who would extract money from the vulnerable through taxes. He was so rich but so disliked because everyone knew what kind of a character he was. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he decided to climb up a tree so that he could get a glimpse of Jesus. Jesus saw him on that Sycamore tree and asked him to come down. This is a very controversial story because people do not like to associate with tax collectors but Jesus, who is no respector of persons told this tax collector that he was going to come to his house for dinner. You can read about this whole story in Luke 19:1-10.

The lesson we learn from the story is that wealth can be channelled as a blessing or as a curse. If we use our wealth well, we not only bless others, but we are enriched in the way we live and how content we are.

The tax collector on his own admission, decided to make right with all the people he had robbed. He decided that he will pay them more than he had taken from them. He had a repentant heart and he was bold enough to publicly acknowledge his wrong. Likewise, when we acknowledge the wrong we have done publicly and ask for forgiveness in all honesty, God in his love and mercy, forgives us. He cleanses us and changes our heart from a heart stone, we get a new heart that is soft and pliable and sympathetic to the needs of people – that in itself is a miracle.

A heart that is renewed is a heart that is restored. The reward is not monetary but long lasting. When we die, we can’t take our money with us but we can be assured that if we have a heart that is fully submitted to God and restored by Him, then we have stored up treasure in heaven where no moth or thief can steal. That is the greatest reward!

So, the miracle of a renewed heart lives forever, unlike riches and wealth that is fleeting. I trust that you would take stock of your heart and see where it will lead you.

Eternity awaits those with a restored heart that is fully surrendered to God. That is His promise. Read John 10:28 and Romans 6:23.

In summary:

• Repent
• Be restored
• Get a renewed heart
• Gain eternal life

Anecdotal
My friend shared a story about a heart patient who had serious heart complications and other related health issues. When he went to see the doctor, he was amazed to find out that the heart was ‘like new’. The doctor said, “That is a miracle.”

Whether you have a physically new heart like this testimony, or a spiritually renewed heart like the tax collector, they are both astounding miracles in themselves.

Read scripture promises here:

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV.‬‬ ◊

Linda Pearl