The Up Devotional

“So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). As you look around at the world, rearrange the price tags. Let me explain. There’s a story about a boy who went into a toy store and noticed that the owner was in the back. […]

I think you should get rich… But probably not in the way that you think! In yesterday’s devotional, we explored the idea of “interior wealth.” This has to do with who we are on the inside. It has to do with character and faith—things that can’t be stolen or pickpocketed by others. In a sermon […]

Let me introduce you to the phrase “interior wealth.” We all know what exterior wealth is. It’s money and other valuables we accumulate. This includes gadgets, clothes, cars and homes. Interior wealth is something else. It’s not unrelated to what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount: “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, […]

Recently, our church held a workshop called “Like Christ.” The keynote speaker was the Rev. Dr. John Vissers. One of the things he spoke about was the idea of spiritual friendship and how, at certain times, we can be the voice of Christ to one another. When two believers build each other up, are honest, […]

One of the most famous verses in Ecclesiastes is chapter 4, verse 12: “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The writer has been talking about the value of the relationships in our lives. In verse 10 he said that two are better than one. Although this idea can certainly be applied to romantic relationships, […]

Life is a not a cakewalk. Some parts are tougher than others—much tougher. If you’ve lived more than five minutes you know this to be true. The writer of Ecclesiastes knows this. As he describes the ups and downs of life—and yes, he has a tendency to focus more on the downs than the ups—he […]

Is it just me, or is friendship endangered?  I’m not talking about surface-level acquaintances or social media “friends.” I’m talking about true, robust, I’m-there-for-you kind of friendships.  These days we are “rugged individualists.” People used to see themselves as very inter-dependent. Today, many people think of themselves primarily as individuals who don’t really need other […]

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). Mother Natalia is a nun. In a recent interview, she quoted someone who came and spoke to her community. The speaker said: “Are you where your feet are?”* At first, it seems like […]

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Lou Holtz was a famous football coach. Someone once asked him about the best moment of his amazing career. What was it? He said, “Gosh, […]

In Ecclesiastes 3:11 we learn that God “has also set eternity in the human heart…” What does it even mean that God has put eternity into all of our hearts? The Hebrew word for eternity (‘olam) isn’t just about duration of time, although it certainly includes that. It also speaks to the wider scope of […]

“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever” (Revelation 7:12) The word “awestruck” isn’t hard to define. It’s whenever you are struck with awe.  For example, seeing high wings bend big trees sideways can leave us awestruck. So can witnessing a new baby […]

Ecclesiastes 3 is a reminder that life has many different seasons and chapters: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” (verse 1).  In and through it all, God is God. He is our God through the good times, and also through the bad. He is our God when […]

The poem at the start of Ecclesiastes 3 is the most famous part of the book. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”  It then goes on to list 28 “times.” For example, there is a time to be born and a time to die, and a time […]

Lately, I’ve been putting down my phone more often. (And yes, I appreciate the irony that many of you are reading or listening to this on your phone—but stick with me…) Not only have I been putting down my phone more often, but I’ve been trying to not pick it up in the first place. […]

Let me say something bold. Hear me out, and then I’ll explain. To not believe in the effectiveness of prayer is to say that God is a liar. Woah, hold on. Who wants to call God a liar? Not me! And I’m sure you don’t want to do that either.  However, the Bible—which is God’s […]

In Ecclesiastes 2, the Teacher is on a hunt for wisdom. At this point in the book, he is frustrated. Things often don’t make sense. They often don’t work out as he’d like.  Can you relate? That’s when he has a realization: “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and […]

Everyone leaves some sort of legacy. What will yours be?  In Ecclesiastes 2, the Teacher frets about this—a lot. He started to hate his job because his life’s work might be squandered by someone who came after him: “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave […]

There can be “seasons” to one’s faith. For example, it is often noted how new Christians have zeal. They are “on fire for the Lord”! That’s amazing. Sometimes it lasts. Sometimes it doesn’t. There are seasons. And that’s okay. Life includes ups and downs. One of the risks with this particular season is that as […]

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10). Mother Teresa was known for her devotion to God and for serving the poorest of the poor. People respected her […]

[Workshop notice below in footnotes…] ~ Every day we are surrounded with physical things that can remind us about spiritual realities.  For example, the sun can remind us about the light of Christ. An evening breeze can remind us to “be still” and know that only God is God (Psalm 46:1). A loud horn can […]

The author of Ecclesiastes did some first-hand research. He was looking for wisdom and knowledge but was getting frustrated. Nothing seemed to satisfy him.  “I built houses and planted vineyards for myself,” he said. “I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also […]

Good habits, bad habits. We probably all have both.  At first you make your habits, and then your habits make you. That’s the part about habits that we often neglect—that they are shaping us and leading us in a certain direction. They are not “one offs.” They have a cumulative effect. They are directional. Like […]

All of us sin, myself included. When this happens, we feel bad about it. And who likes to feel bad, right?  Well, today I’d like to explain how even feeling bad about sin can be a sign of God’s love for you. Let me explain—and you’ve got to stick with me on this one. Before […]

Note: New podcast episode link in the footnotes below – “Habits are Coordinates.” ~ In Ecclesiastes 1:8, the teacher says: “All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” In other words, nothing makes him content. Nothing he sees, and […]

We’ve been spending some time with the book of Ecclesiastes. At first glance, chapter one seems pretty dreary. “All things are full of weariness,” the author says, “a man cannot utter it…” (Ecclesiastes 1:8). See what I mean! But the teacher is expressing frustrations, not making conclusions. He’s working out his thoughts and feelings about […]