Nest Egg Christians

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 19-21.

I think my faith in Jesus is like a savings account, but the bank isn’t here on earth, it’s in heaven.  My belief in Jesus is the minimum investment a Christian has to make to get this special savings account.  This investment can lie there dormant, with no additional deposits made and eventually be put in the inactive file.  Or I can make deposits by the things I do as an example of how Jesus works in my life.
Now, thieves can steal the money from banks on earth, but the only one who will take away the “money” from my heavenly account is me, by leading a worldly life that leads me astray.  If I’m planning on having a good “nest egg” built up in my Salvation account, then I should be more focused on leading a Christian life, and being a Nest Egg Christian reflecting this goal.

Here is a related passage:
*Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.  Matthew, Chapter 13, verses 44-46.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Harboring Resentments Christian

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 14-15.

Every time I pray, I ask God to forgive all of my sins, but do I do the same?  I find myself harboring resentment towards others instead of letting it go.  I find that if I hold onto hatred, anger or resentment, which eats at me, I’m not the example that God wants me to be in my everyday life.  Instead of being a Harboring Resentments Christian, I can set a better Christian example by forgiving others, letting God take the resentment away when I ask Him.  One of the best ways I have to let my “light shine” for God is by being an example of how He works in my life.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Going Through the Motions Christian

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Matthew, Chapter 6, verse 7.

I get caught up in thinking that I’m saying these wonderful prayers, but I recognize that they don’t mean anything if I’m daydreaming about situations at work or what I need to get at the store.  I realize that when I say the same prayers over and over without thinking about what I’m saying to God, they ARE vain repetitions!  God doesn’t want Going Through the Motions Christians when we pray.  He wants any communication we have with Him to be meaningful enough to focus on it. 

Here is a related passage:
*This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.  But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  Matthew, Chapter 15, verses 8-9.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.

Stooping to the Same Level Christian

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?  do not even the publicans the same?  Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 43-46.

God isn’t asking me to ignore hurtful and spiteful things that people do because I am a Christian.  He is asking me to go further than that.  He wants me to be nice to them in return, despite their actions and to pray for them.  I think we are much better examples of our beliefs when we don’t stoop to the same level as others, but it’s difficult at times. God doesn't want me to be a Stooping to the Same Level Christian and He can take care of my pride if I ask Him to, making me a better example of how He works in my life.

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my walk with Christ, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verses.
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