NIGHT DEVOTION

NIGHT PRAYER

For we brought nothing into this

world. and it is certain we can

carry nothing out.And having food

and raiment let us be therewith

content.

From: 1 Timothy 6:7-8

INSPIRATION

Someone once said that there are

no u-hauls behind hearses. The

implication is that you can't take it

with you when you die. There's a

story ofa man who tried. When

the doctors told him he had a short

time to live, he converts some of

this cash into gold bricks, puts

them in a suitcase and instructs

that this suitcase should be buried

with him. When he approaches the

pearly gates carrying the suitcase,

St. Peter stops him and asks to look

inside the suitcase. The angel

Gabriel asks, "What's in the

suitcase?" "Pavement," replies St.

Peter. The storv illustrates that in

heaven what we consider to be

wealth on this earth is really

nothing. Heaven's streets are

paved with gold. That would be the

equivalent of us finding some kind

of value in asphalt or concrete

chunks here on earth. We spent a

lot of time trying to get things on

this earth. We spend a lot of time

working to get more and more and

more stuff that we just don't need.

If you don't believe it, take a look

at what happens when a person

dies without an heir. A lawyer has

to come in, open up the house, and

sell off all the belongs to settle the

estate. Thousands and thousands

of dollars worth of

stuff--sometimes still in bOxes--is

sold for pennies on the dollar. An

entire lifetime of obtaining things

and the only thing that happens is

that strangers come in to pick over

the possessions a giant yard sale.

This passage tells us that we are to

be content with what we have. We

should be content with food and

clothing. As long as our needs are

met on a daily basis, that's really

all we should ask for. Everything

else is just bonus stuff and if we are

spending time away from our

families, if we're spending time

focusing on getting rather than

focusing on living, then we're

being very foolish because we can't

take it with us. When the end

comes, all the stuff that we bought

stay right here our closets or our

garages. While we're on this earth

we need to make the right choices

and be sure that we are able to be

content with what we have. Then

we may end up with few things

that we want.

PRAYER

Father, I thank You for everything.

I know sometimnes I may seem

discontent because there are

things that I think that I want,

things I think that I need, but the

truth is I'm happy with my life. I'm

happy with what You've done for

me. I'm happy with my family,

with my job, with the things that I

have. I've seen what happens when

you have too much stuff and I

don't want that. When I get greedy

you remind me that I have

everything that I need and most of

what I could ever want. I thank

You Lord. Amen.