Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. As Jesus says, life does not consist in an abundance of possessions, yet that is how we tend to live. Money can be a tool as part of living richly toward God, or it can be used the way the world uses it, to gain power and influence. We must guard against greed and be generous with our money.

The wait is over. Jesus is with us. Immanuel! This word became flesh so that He can be with us. God saves us through His presence. It is not through angels, not through another messenger but in Jesus, the son of God.

The Israelites had turned from God’s decrees, yet somehow are oblivious to their covenant breaking. They were supposed to care for the Levites and the Temple through their tithes and offerings, but instead were robbing God, and it was having an economic impact on the nation. God challenges them to “test him”, take a chance on him and he will be found faithful to provide.

Testing God’s patience, the people claim God no longer cares about whether people do good and believe God will not bring justice against those who pervert justice on the day of judgment. God reminds them that he will indeed return to his temple and mete out justice like a refining fire, a promise fulfilled in the coming of Jesus the true temple of God.