Most of us, especially Americans, feel life is not successful unless we get a lot out of it. In today’s reading Paul feels what he puts into life is far more important than what he gets out of it. In Acts 20:24 he says, However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. This life is temporary and we will get very little out of it unless what we put into it is our focus. Nothing is as fulfilling as doing the will of God and knowing it has an eternal impact.

Jesus called all of us to take care of each other. When those who need help the most receive it from us, we are helping as though we were helping Christ Himself. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘ I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” We are either obedient and do what Jesus asks of us or we are not. There is no misunderstanding because Christ showed us the example of what we are to do. What are we doing differently that separates us from unbelievers?

Jesus made it very clear in today’s reading you must pick who you will serve. Either you need to look to God and serve Him, or you can look to the desires of this world. In Luke 16:13 Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Jesus is not saying that working to make money is bad, He is saying it is bad when you make money the most important thing in your life. Trying to justify you need to have money to serve God is nothing more than an excuse. God doesn’t need your money, He wants our obedience and willingness to serve with all we have including our most important possession: Time.