“If your wealth was easy to get, it will not be worth much to you.” Proverbs 20:21
I can so relate to this. Back when I started having to pay for things on my own (many, many years ago), I took better care of my purchases. I’ve noticed the same scenario happening with my own children.
Just the other day, I had asked Holly to please clean up the house while I’m away at work. My saying to the kids is “You mess it up, you clean it up.” I even went on to tell her, “Treat it like your own.” Then I paused, glanced upward, and then changed my words and said, “Well, I’ve seen your room. Maybe not like you own, but better.” She was quick to say, “I know my room is a mess, but if it was all mine in my own place, I’d take better care of it.” Hmmmm, game on. I told her, “Okay, mi casa es su casa. Put Cole to work too.”
When I came home that afternoon, sweet nibblets, my home was clean. She proceeded to tell me the list of things they had done, and even mopped the floors. Hello new Holly! Let’s play the game of “This Is Your House” every day. Haha.
This story reminds me of my brother Kenneth. His room when we were growing up was, uh, a total disaster! Spit cups (from chewing tobacco), clean and dirty clothes, food, etc. were all strung everywhere. He would pay me to clean his room. When he got married, all that messiness stopped. His home (thank goodness for my sister-in-law, Dee, too) is immaculate. He was transformed overnight. What happened? It was his!
You know what? You have been given the greatest gift of all. That gift was eternal life through Jesus Christ. It was free to you, it didn’t cost a thing! You don’t have to earn it, you just have to receive it. How will you take care of it? This gift was easy to obtain and is worth more than anything in the world.
Don’t treat this wealth like “an inheritance claimed too soon” (NIV). Relish in it. Take care of this gift. Share this gift with others. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. It’s YOURS.
