“I must leave all this behind!” - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

When one becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; when he dies he shall carry nothing away.
Psalm 49:16.17.

"I must leave all this behind!"
Jules Mazarin (1602-1661), the French cardinal and diplomat, was the ruling minister in France for a long period. Through his income from various offices he amassed a great fortune. He had his own palace built in Paris, which housed his extensive library and many valuable paintings.

Shortly before Mazarin's death the Count of Brienne witnessed how the wealthy man dragged himself into his picture gallery, repeatedly murmuring, "I must leave all this behind!" He was already so weak that he had to pause after every step. Again he said, "That, too! What an effort it was to obtain it! How could I ever leave it behind without regret! Where I am going, I'll never see anything of it again."

Whether it is riches or honour or power, all that belongs to this earth we must one day leave behind. Therefore Jesus Christ once admonished us so urgently: "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, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

The decisive question is: What does our heart cling to? What is our life's content and objective? Is my heart attached to Christ, who gave His life for me? If so, He is my treasure together with all that belongs to Him. Such a treasure is eternally secure.

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 9:13-31 · Revelation 1:12-20