Gain Or Lose?

Mark 8:³⁵ “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

We will kick off today’s devotion with our final thought yesterday. And that is in your Family, are you going to store it or are you going to pour it? Father, are you going to store it, just watching football, playing video games, going out with the boys, playing golf, or whatever you do but not really engaging at home? You are not fully engaging your children or your wife, you are storing it and not pouring it. In your Finances, ask yourself, am I storing it or am I pouring it? As a Pastor, over and over again, I see people who God has taught how to tithe. God taught them by Himself how to tithe. And after a while, they begin to store up resources instead of giving, or tithing.

But because such people are on a path with God, if He is interested in them, He will teach them some interesting lessons. And when He teaches them that lesson, then they are crying and wondering what is going on. Are you going to store it or pour it? That is the question. Everyone that saves his life will lose it, everyone! Every resource that you keep away from the Kingdom and from God, you expose to devourers. Are you going to store it or are you going to pour it? You can help my brother who is struggling with his family. You can buy him a car because you have the resources to. But you want to store it because if you store it, you will have more money. Yet if you pour it into my brother’s life and buy him a new car, guess what?

You would be blessing somebody. You would be fulfilling the counsel of Christ. You would be taking another family higher. So, are you going to store it or are you going to pour it? Yours may not necessarily be a car. It could be a phone. Someone else is struggling, but you can afford to get the person a phone. Are you going to store it? Or are you going to pour it? When you choose to pour it, you will discover that the key is in the pouring. In your Fitness, you know you need to work out, but you just want to be lazy. Are you going to store the energy or are you going to pour it? Are you going to get sweaty, are you going to engage? Or are you going to store it? You know you are not supposed to be eating that food particularly at that time. It is your choice, are you going to store it or are you going to pour it?

In your Friendships, are you going to pour it or are you going to store it? In your Farm, at work, it is the same thing. Are you going to give your best or are you going to hold back? Are you going to hold back and store it? Or are you going to give it your best and pour it? Interestingly, even when having Fun, some people still hold back. If you do not want to play then leave the place, and let the people that want to play, play. When it is time to have fun, have fun. Do not store it, pour it. So, you have a decision to make.

Prayer (song): My life is not my own. To you I belong. I give myself, I give myself to you. (x2). I give myself away, I give myself away, so You can use me. Amen!