The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: DEPOSIT (03/11/21)
Some of us can quote to the penny the current balance of our Earthly bank and investment accounts.

When kept in its proper place on our list of priorities, there is nothing wrong with earthly prosperity (3John 1: 2), providing it has been legitimately secured and retained.

However, when not kept in their proper place, prosperity can easily lead one into spiritual adultery, placing one's first love (Rev. 2: 4) on the back burner.

Furthermore, making the pursuit of prosperity one's first love, one can easily become enslaved (Romans 6: 16) to the things of this world (1John 2: 16). "No one can serve two masters (Matt.. 6: 24 NASB)."

Divine jealousy (Deut. 4: 24) is aroused when anything or anyone that would take the place of God (Matt. 6: 24) enters the lives of His children.
All earthly prosperity does not come from God (Luke 4: 6). The devil will gladly provide his targets (1Pet. 5: 8) with anything that will destroy the quality of their spiritual life. Protective fathers and wise children will say, "No!"

Rev. 3: 17 teach that one can be rich by worldly standards while unknowingly be living in spiritual squalor!

"Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked... (Rev. 3: 17 NASB)."

Scripture speaks of opening (Math. 6: 20) and then making ongoing deposits (1Cor. 3: 12) in the Bank of Heaven. Jesus taught that wherever (Heaven vs. Earth) one chooses to make his his/her investments, reveals where the heart of the depositor is (Math. 6: 21), as well.

" for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6: 21 NASB)."

We invest our TIME, our TALENTS, and our TREASURES every day! Many "Christians" invest more time listening to what the world has to say than to God.

Our heavenly account was opened on the day we were born again. As a born-again, Spirit-filled believer, we have the daily opportunity to make deposits of silver, gold, and precious stones (1Cor. 3: 12).
The silver, gold, and precious stones of 1Cor. 3: 12 symbolically represent the deeds of divine good that God (John 15: 5/1Cor. 3: 7) produces through born-again, Spirit-filled, believers.

Deposits of human good, symbolically represented as wood hay and straw can also be deposited in the account.

But when the 1Cor. 3: 13 "audit" takes place, the deposits of human good will be rejected as far as having any credit towards receiving Heavenly reward!

If deeds of human good entitled one to receive heavenly reward, then the atheists and unbelievers that produce it would have something coming.

Whatever reward or compensation for the production of human good that is received by saint or sinner here on Earth, will ALL be left behind when they depart this world.

Divine good (silver, gold, precious stones) can NOT be produced independently of God (John 15: 5/1Cor. 3: 7). Human beings, apart from God, can only produce human good.

Human good brings glory to the human producer.

One the greatest example of great human good would be the work of talented surgeons. But if such surgeons reject the Gospel Message, they are headed for the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15).

The greatest form of divine good is saved and edified souls. Souls are saved and edified through the execution of the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19, 20).

Born again believers who embrace Biblical discipleship have this opportunity to produce divine good and make deposits of silver, gold, and precious stones.

Disciples do their part by learning and applying Biblical principles to their own lives first, and then by communicating these principles to others by what they think, do, and say on a daily basis.

Spiritually mature disciples do not serve God to be rewarded, but God has made it clear (1Cor. 3: 14) that He intends to give great (Matt. 5: 12) reward (1Cor. 3: 14) and privileges (Rev. 2/Rev. 3) to disciples.

All born again believers are assured (Romans 8: 1) of a home in Heaven, but not all born again believers (Mark 4: 19) will receive a disciple's reward (1Cor. 3: 15).

Only the deposits of silver, gold, and precious stones (divine good) will be rewarded. It will be an eye-opening, jaw-dropping, experience when what many thought (Matt. 7: 22) would bring them Heavenly reward goes up in smoke (1Cor. 3:15)!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 520 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Ruthie Alekseeva
03/19/21
A great message and clearly written :)
Ruthie Alekseeva
03/19/21
A great message and clearly written :)
Stephen Kimball
03/19/21
You did a good job explaining yourself here; making your point clear. I think your observation that all prosperity does not come from God is a really important thought that many Christians (who have much) don’t ever consider, but should. Great job with the subject.