Devotion 6.28.16

Baseball in Arlington has gone to a new level in the club's history.  Texas now finds itself a perennial winner, even going to the World Series twice in the past 10 years or so.  The climb to greatness in the minds of their fans starts when one George W. Bush became the managing partner for the organization.  The old ballpark was torn down after the new one was designed and constructed, the architects being the same who designed the yard in Baltimore.  Then it was as God ordained it, in their minds, as they began to turn things around and build a winning program.  So, logically, it makes sense that barely 20 years after the new park was built, the visionaries in Arlington want to tear it down and build a new park, except this time remember to air condition the place.

Yes, I too was floored when I learned of the ballpark possibly being torn down and a new one put nearby, between the current one and Cowboy Stadium.  You see, when it comes to a sport's franchises, we hardly get squeamish about spending money. 

I remember teaching Adult Bible Study one Sunday when a man I consider gifted with wisdom noted (I'm paraphrasing) that we show where our beliefs are if you see where we spend our money (Ernie to be specific for those of you from Hope).  When I walk past the football stadium at Texas Tech, used maybe 20 days out of the year for sport (high school and college football), I see a major investment which was his point. 

Where is the focus of our attention with the things we've been gifted with?  Follow your money trail and see where you spend your leisure dollar after your fixed expenditures (house, cars, insurance, utilities) and you may see a trend of what is really important to you.

How about church?  Where does it come into play in that equation?  As Christ notes, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)

Pray for guidance when it comes to prioritizing your time, talent, and treasure.  Pray that we support our ministries at our church when it comes to money, even if we have to sacrifice to do so.  Pray we do it with a right spirit within ourselves.

Hope Men's Ministry