True Riches

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

Growing up, my dad was my hero. I always wanted to spend time with him. He loved me and worked hard to provide for my needs and wants. When I was 10, he got a second job at a restaurant as our household budget became strained. The few hours between jobs were a time of relaxation in front of the TV while eating his supper which was on the couch's arm. I was not allowed to bother him during this down time. He was worn out and did not have the energy to deal with a hyperactive boy. When I would ask him to play catch, he was usually too tired and would send me outside to play.

While dad was so mechanically inclined that he could do or fix anything, he did not have the time or patience to teach me. I was allowed to go off and play while he changed the car's oil, rewired the phone lines, or installed the dishwasher. I missed out on the lessons that every man needs in daily life. While dad worked hard to provide for my "needs," what I really needed and craved was his time. Now that he is gone, I would give everything I own for one more day with him.

Unfortunately, my father is not a unique example, especially now with inflation impacting many families' ability to put food on the table, or the overtime needed to save for life's comforts. We often work so hard to provide for what we believe is best for our children that we neglect sharing our greatest assets: our time and guidance. Our culture often gauges success based on our cars or the size of our homes, when our true legacy is revealed in our children.

Our lives are a fog that is here for a short time (James 4:14). Most of us will not be remembered for how long we worked, how much money we made, or how large our house was. Our true value is measured in the loving encouragement we share with others, and the godly wisdom we give to our children. The love we pass on and the encouragement we give to those in despair will be remembered far more than our wealth.

Our children are formed by watching our daily example. Our words do not matter as much as our actions; therefore, we must question ourselves about what we are actually teaching them. By consistently working overtime to make ends meet, we may be neglecting our children's need for guidance. We end up teaching them the lesson that we can meet our needs only through our own effort. Not only does this signal a lack of faith that God will fulfill His promises, but we also end up wasting the time that we could have utilized to model the Christian lifestyle.

If we take our children with us to volunteer at the food bank or minister to the homeless, we illustrate the value of love in action. Praying for and trusting in God's provision illustrates our faith in our true Father.

God promises us great rewards for diligently seeking Him. When we live by faith, God will not only meet all our needs in this life (Matthew 6:33-34, Hebrews 11:6), but He has an inheritance in heaven reserved for His followers who do His will (Matthew 25:34-35).

Our lives are short, and each moment is a precious resource that we can never reclaim especially when we are doing God’s will. We have the opportunity to leave a legacy of Christ for this world that will long outlive us. Our children will want to follow in our footsteps. We must choose wisely the path we take. There is no better use of our time than in being a living Bible that our children can read and learn from. A legacy of faith and love in our children's hearts are the true riches that live on when we have reached the end.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” – Psalm 127:3