goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Abundant Life

By Linda Tancs

In Matthew’s gospel, the Lord explains that it’s hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of Heaven. When Peter asks what’s in it for the apostles, who have given up everything to follow Him, Jesus replies, “Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:23-30). It’s important to recognize that this discourse was not intended to emphasize a recoupment in the capitalist sense. Instead, Jesus is referring to the ability to perceive the things of this world in a spirit of detachment that results in abundance in the sense of perceiving them without distortion, not necessarily in abundance of the things themselves. Don’t look at things carnally; view it from an eternal perspective (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Under the Son

By Linda Tancs

Author and humanitarian Bob Goff once said, “I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered… Now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” That statement reminds me of King Solomon’s observation in Ecclesiastes. He compared life under the sun (this worldly existence) with life under the Son. His conclusion? It’s all vanity under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

Misplaced pursuits and striving after worldly notions of success are destined to remain unsatisfying because they don’t reflect our higher purpose. Our highest purpose and duty, Solomon concluded, is to worship God and obey His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Life is sweetest under the Son.