Jesus is raising the question, "Is physical well-being alone a worthy object which we should devote our lives? Has human life no more significance than this?" This, says Jesus, is a pagan attitude to life. "Pagans run after all these things." This does not mean that you should not make plans for the future or take sensible steps for your own financial security.

3. Read the Bible with child-like faith and humility. Open your heart - as you open God's book, and say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Resolve to believe implicitly whatever you find there, however much it may run counter to your own desires and prejudices. Resolve to receive heartily every statement of truth - whether you like it or not.

What was Jesus prohibiting when he told us not to lay up treasure for ourselves on earth? Scripture nowhere forbids ownership and investment in property or business. The anarchist idea that property is theft does not come from the Bible. Jesus commends putting money to work (Luke 19:11-26). Scripture praises the ant for storing in the summer the food it will need in the winter, and condemns the believer who makes no future provision for his family (Prov.6:6ff.; 1 Tim.5:8).

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." (1 John 1:1,2)