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Searching
for Pennies
There was a small boy who
when walking down the street one day found a bright copper penny. He was
so excited that he found money, especially because it didn't cost him
anything. This experience led him to spend the rest of his days walking
with his head down, eyes wide open, looking for treasure.
During his lifetime he
found 296 pennies, 48 nickels, 19 dimes, 16 quarters, 2 half dollars and
one crinkled dollar bill, for a total of: $13.26
He got money for nothing,
except that he missed the breathless beauty of 31,369 sunsets, the
colorful splendor of 157 rainbows, and the fiery beauty of hundreds of
maples nipped by autumn's frost. He never saw white clouds drifting across
blue skies, shifting into various wondrous formations. Birds flying, sun
shining, and the smiles of a thousand passing people are not a part of his
memory. *
How sad, but how true
of so many people today! In
fact, you and I are often guilty of “searching for pennies” and
missing out on the greatest blessings of life.
“Searching for
pennies” for us may mean spending an inordinate amount of time and
energy on our jobs or any other pursuit.
As a result, we often “miss out” on the blessings of a loving
family, close friends, and a vibrant faith in God.
Jesus said... “Do
not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy
and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not
break in and steal. For where your TREASURE is, there your HEART will be also” (Mat
6:19-21).
“Searching for
pennies” in the things of the world is to spend time focusing on
those things that are material and temporary in nature.
Jesus instructs us to place our focus on things that are
spiritual and eternal. The greatest blessings of God are spiritual blessings
including the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of living eternally
with Him in heaven (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-4).
Those greater
spiritual and eternal blessings are found ONLY in Christ!
To be “in Christ” one must believe
in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin
to Him in
repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and
be baptized
(immersed) into Him for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27).
Then to CONTINUE to enjoy those greater, spiritual blessings, one
must CONTINUE
to follow Him faithfully (1 John 1:7).
Don’t waste your
time “searching for pennies.”
Invest your time in the
GREATEST blessing that will last ETERNALLY: your relationship with God!
God bless you!
David
A. Sargent, Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
* http://www.ozsermonillustrations.com/frames/materialism_frameset.htm
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