Petrified by Possessions

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Pompeii was a flourishing city in Southern Italy until 79 AD when, suddenly, Mt. Vesuvius erupted for two days, completely destroying it. The city was covered in meters of ash and pumice until it was discovered in 1748. When archaeologists began their excavations, they uncovered a petrified woman clutching a cache of jewelry, some of the finest recovered from the ancient world. She was apparently attempting to flee the doomed city holding desperately onto her prized possessions.

During its heyday, there was a lot of “pomp” in Pompeii. It was a magnificent city — doomed to destruction — much like our world today. We don’t know when it will happen, but Peter, the close disciple of Jesus, warned us about it with this prophetic statement, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” 2nd Peter 3:10 – NIV  

So much for worldly possessions! And just like the “petrified lady” of Pompeii, we can make the mistake of clinging tenaciously to our “treasures.” Unfortunately, earthly treasures break down, rust out, become obsolete, decay, and will eventually be brought to nothing.

There is a better way for Christ followers. In many of His parables, Christ declared that we are stewards of God's possessions — not hoarders of our possessions — and that we are to use the things God has entrusted to us with His interests in mind, to further His Kingdom.

Don’t be “petrified,” clinging to your possessions. Greed/lust for things, and fear of the loss of things, cause many to be “petrified,” preventing the eternal work they were ordained to do, and stealing their eternal rewards. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20