Wealth and Poverty: thief

Read a great illustration that made how I live my life on earth in perspective of heaven. If my home was in the Netherlands and I was visiting Canada for lets say, 6 months what would that look like with these kinds of rules. I cannot take anything back home with me, nor can I ship anything or carry back any money with me. But while I am in Canada, I can earn money and send deposits to my bank account back in the Netherlands. Question: Would I fill my hotel room with furniture and cover my walls with pictures and drape my windows with curtains? I do not think so. Since my time in Canada is only 6 months, I would send all my money home knowing full well they'll be waiting for me when I arrive.

You made my life short,
so brief that the time
means nothing to you.
“Human life is but a breath - Psalm 39:5

Our portfolios, in light of eternity should have strategic kingdom-building projects which we can be funding with what God has given to us to give.

... for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share, you will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift. - 2 Corinthians 8:14;9:11

Three billion people today are outside Jesus Christ. Two-thirds of those do not have a viable Christian witness in their culture. If they are to hear — and Christ commands that they hear — cross-cultural missionaries will have to be sent and paid for. All the wealth needed to send this new army of good news ambassadors is in the American church. If we, like Paul, are content with the simple necessities of life, thousands of dollars at Bethlehem, and millions of dollars in the Baptist General Conference, and hundreds of millions of dollars in the Protestant church would be released to take the gospel to the frontiers. And the revolution of joy and freedom it would cause at home would be the best local witness imaginable. The biblical call is that you can and ought to be content with the simple necessities of life. Therefore, don’t try to get rich. - John Piper

We should work not only to meet the needs of our family and because it is healthy, but also so that we can take our earnings and use it to help those in need.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need. - Ephesians 4:28

For you showed sympathy and deep concern for those who were imprisoned, and you joyfully accepted the [unjust] seizure of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, conscious of the fact that you have a better possession and a lasting one [prepared for you in heaven]. - Hebrews 10:34

Followers of Christ know that earthly goods can rust, decay, and be stolen. And they know that even if by sweat and fretting they could manage to hold onto them, at most they would last but a short time.

Here is the promise though that follows the guarantee of material destruction --

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a [mighty and thunderous] roar, and the [material] elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be [a]burned up.
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be [in the meantime] in holy behavior [that is, in a pattern of daily life that sets you apart as a believer] and in godliness [displaying profound reverence toward our awesome God], [while you earnestly] look for and await the coming of the day of God. For on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the [material] elements will melt with intense heat! But in accordance with His promise we expectantly await new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him]. 2 Peter 3:10-14

These are the immediate lifestyle implications of the return of Christ. He promises special reward to those who, uninfatuated with the present world --

In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing. - 2 Timothy 4:8

Christ's sudden return will not take by surprise those who are prepared for it.

For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord]. But you, [c]believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness. - 1 Thessalonians 5:2-5

In Hebrews, after a series of inspiring stories about the hardships faced by God's people with their eyes on heaven, the writer presents a challenge --

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of[a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross,[b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. - Hebrews 12:1-2

The writer's concern is not only for the sin that entangles us, but for the morally neutral things that hinder us.

The book of Hebrews ends with one more reminder to believers who are tempted to live in the light of this world and not the next --