Jack and the Beanstalk

A well-known fairy tale is Jack and the Beanstalk. In this story, Jack trades the family cow for some magic beans. The beans grow into a giant beanstalk which he climbs to find a castle owned by a vicious giant. He is able to steal from the giant some gold, a golden-egg laying goose and a magic harp. He descends the beanstalk, chops it down and watches the giant, in pursuit, fall to his death. Jack and his family live happily ever after in prosperity.

History is full of stories of magical routes to riches and health. Some that come to mind include the stories of The Genie and the Lamp, King Midas, The 7 Cities of Cibola (Francisco Vasquez De Coronado searched for this city during the times of the conquistadors), and the Fountain of Youth (sought by explorer Ponce De Leon).

What is our obsession with these things? A fast-track to the easy life! Obsession with wealth, health and vitality. Many place such a premium on these “things” that they become idolatry. Isn’t it ironic that we get so obsessed with the “world,” creation, if you will, that we forget the CREATOR? Isn’t it sad that He has to compete with His own creation for our devotion?

Our focus needs to be on the true source of our eternal health and vitality, Jesus Christ! What good does it do us to chase after things that we are unable to maintain forever? “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)” Christ spells it out for us succinctly!

Even if we spend our whole lives chasing after health and wealth, we have to constantly worry about someone trying to take it from us! And if that isn’t enough to be concerned with, how do we know when God will require our very lives? Christ warns us of this very thing in Luke 12:19-21:

“And then I will say to my soul, ‘soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Laying up treasure in heaven is being rich toward God! Doing His perfect will and dedicating our very lives to Him ensures an eternity of happiness and joyful singing! It is helpful to remember that God knows your needs and will provide them. He is not an ATM. No prophet in history ever proclaimed prosperity gospels, only repentance and return to God!