Biblical Success - Running the Race of Life - Raising the BarSýnishorn

In our series generally titled “Biblical Success” we look at various aspects of successfully running a literal race and compare them to scriptural principles used to build a successful life as Christ-followers. As we train to run a race, we gradually increase the difficulty of the training to gain endurance and strength.

In our lives as Christ-followers spiritual discipline is required as we meet many challenging portions or principles of the Word that we encounter as we train to grow in our faith journey. In this study, we will look at just a few very simple but challenging examples of those spoken directly and clearly by Jesus Himself in the gospels. It would be foolish to talk or to think of successful life as a Christ-follower while living in disregard or disobedience to our Lord’s direct voice.

So let’s start with a familiar but not so easy example from Matthew 6. The verse starts “Don’t lay up treasures on earth” and quickly explains why; simply put, because if we do we will lose them. It goes on to urge “laying up treasure in heaven” where we will not lose them! How do we do that? How can we lay up treasure in heaven while we run the race set before us on earth?

Let’s begin by asking what it means to “lay up?” Generally, it means to save or to set aside or to store. To accumulate. The term can also mean to hoard. Does this mean we shouldn’t set aside savings or make investments? Should we tithe? Gross or net? If we do tithe is the 90% remainder ours to do what we want with? Are we owners or stewards?

It might help to get an idea of the sense of it from The Parable of Rich Fool in Luke 12;13-21. In this passage, Jesus speaks of a business man who had a great year but decided to keep all the gain for himself by building bigger barns. Jesus called him a “fool” saying “so is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” There is that “laying up” term again. In this example, the man kept all the gain for himself and did not honor or regard God at all.

So, if we say that there is a balance between solid saving for legitimate personal need and honoring God by generous giving, how can we determine where the balance lies for us? What does it mean to be “Rich toward God?” Is Jesus just speaking about money? Or more?