Value People over Possessions

“‘But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” Luke 12:20 NIV

In a story published by the South China Morning Post yesterday, it was reported that Hong Kong’s biggest annual marathon returned to its maximum number of participants since the Covid-19 pandemic, as 74,000 runners, including politicians and celebrities, raced through the city’s streets. A 30-year-old man who took part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday died following the race after he collapsed at Tin Hau MTR station, despite first aid and resuscitation efforts at Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, according to authorities. As of 4pm, 39 out of 841 injured runners were sent to the hospital. A man was in a critical condition, while five others were in a serious condition.

And you know, as this story illustrates, being young and fit doesn’t ensure that a person won’t face an untimely death. Nor does being a politician or a celebrity. Which is the very reason that you and I must strive to do things that have an eternal value rather than things that will gain us temporal fame and fortune. Consider the parable of the rich man. The story tells us that the man worked to acquire all that he could but was never truly satisfied or content. When he decided to build bigger barns to horde up all he had rather than to use it for Kingdom work, “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.” God then asked the man, “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

So whatever God has blessed you with (time, talent, treasure), be generous with it my friend, knowing that everything you and I have comes from God and should be used in service to Him. After all, the only thing we can take with us to heaven are the souls of those who came to know Jesus because of something we've said or done. Which means we must always value people over possessions.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we should work to store up our treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Lord, give us loving hearts and busy hands to help the lost and those in need that we might help to do our part in making heaven full. Father, as You bless us, help us to bless others... trusting You to provide above and beyond what we could ever imagine. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!