Ex. 39-40
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Ex 40:34). It is so awesome to me that, though they were a sinful and stiff-necked people, God made a way to dwell among them; to be physically present with them. The glory of the LORD so filled the temple that Moses could not even enter it – that sure sounds like a physical presence to me!! It is even more awesome for me to think that, because of Jesus’s work on the cross, the glory of God fills us in the same way. I don’t know about you, but I fear I take this truth way too lightly.
Mark 4:21-41
“For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:25) Boy, THAT’S not a Socialist / Communist concept, is it?!? Though it is by no means a “he who dies with the most toys wins” philosophy, either.
Jesus makes this statement right after saying that the measure you use for others will be used on you. And when you consider His words in other places, where He talks about how we lose that which we seek to keep and gain that which we willingly lose, it seems that what you “have” here has a lot more to do with what you give away, do for others, or use for God’s purposes. Attitudes and motives, right? There is nothing wrong with having wealth. It is how we gain it and what we do with it that matter. And I think it always does us well to be mindful of who the wealth belongs to in the first place.