Wood, Hay, And Stubble

How much time do you spend building treasure in heaven?



How much time do you spend thinking that one day Jesus Himself will hand to you your eternal reward?



Most people who call themselves Christians give very little thought to their future reward.  They are too busy building earthly treasure to ponder heaven.



Consider this scripture...



Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.  But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.  If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.  But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. 1 Cor 3: 13-15



Here on earth there are people who are called investors.  These men and women spend alot of time researching commodities to find out where to best invest their money.  They have financial portfolios, stock market reports, and properties.  We call them wise.



I say we can learn from them.



The Kingdom of God is sound.  Unlike the stock market there is no danger of heaven "crashing".  Yet God's people hesitate to invest.  We hold on to our time, treasure, and talents (even or spouses and children) with greedy or fearful hands and begrudge to give even a little to God.



The Holy Spirit is speaking to anyone who has an ear to hear.  He says in a still, small voice...



INVEST!  Your reward is in my hands.



To those who are listening there is an urgency in that voice, though it be quiet.  Daily He says it, over and over...



PREPARE!



The wise are listening for that voice because He will guide them.  Even as worldly investors hire stock brokers to help them invest well God has provided through His Spirit a broker.  He is speaking to the heavenly investor...



give this, give that, serve, love, help, minister, forgive, preach, share, pray, read, study, draw near, worship, disciple, let go and GO! 



Every step of obedience to His voice is an investment of...



 gold, silver, jewels



A window has opened in time and for the wise this is an opportunity that will culminate in rewards beyond our imagination.  Blessing we can't contain.



But for those who are ignoring that voice all they have to offer God is the...



wood, hay, or straw



of their fearful, self centered, and opinionated lives.



But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. 1Cor 3:12-15