Listening to the Holy Spirit:
Rich is he who is thankful. In want of more, there is poverty. He who has more than enough can be both rich and impoverished. Great wealth extends from many who live in shortage, and great poverty is the well-adorned offspring of the greedy. Treasure of the earth is to be weighed only in the company of the treasure of Heaven; without this standard no value can be measured. What worth is a tool that is not applied to the task? What worth is a shoe to those with no feet? All that is needed is given to each that My Kingdom would be brought to those lost and weak, in great estates and also to those who have no roof. Find what you already possess; it is enough.
2 Pet 1:3-4 (NIV) – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
1 Tim 6:17 (ESV) – As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
2 Cor 6:10 (ESV) – As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Eph 1:18 (ESV) – Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
Taking It to Work:
To the Elon Musks, and the Bill Gates of the world, whatever we have in the bank, whatever house we live in, whatever car we drive, in their eyes, we’re pretty much broke. Most of us will never see the incredible wealth those guys have. We are on another level all together. I’m not sure what they would call it, but whatever its name, its not their level.
In the real world, most people work for a salary or hourly wage. We work hard and aim for increases in that wage, maybe not aiming for Elon’s wealth, but enough wealth to live comfortably, provide for our families and bless a few others.
Actually, if you take the very rich out of the equation, to most of the world, because we can do those three things, we are still high up among the wealthy.
Where does much of that wealth go? Every year there are trillions of dollars spend on health care, and many of the very rich spend inordinate amounts of money to stay young, and eventually to try to stay alive. Celebrities like Larry King and Simon Cowell have spoken many times of having themselves cryogenically preserved after death, so centuries later, they might have the chance of being revived when medical advancements allow. It’s only $200,000 to get started.
Well, the truth is, and we don’t think about this enough, we don’t need liquid nitrogen and a $200k deposit to have the hope of life after our death. We are reminded today that not only are we already heirs of eternal life, but aside that, there is even a greater privilege with that eternal life. A privilege the rich and famous could never buy or afford. It is the incomprehensible privilege of having been adopted by and granted the ability to have a relationship with the God that promises to provide for all our needs. All given to us by through Jesus Christ when we make Him, not money, the Lord and provision of our lives.
I believe most receiving this devotion already have that privilege, and understand, at least partially, the kind of wealth that that relationship with God represents. Like I said though, we don’t think about it enough, and because we don’t, that allows us, even as Christians, to spend an inordinate amount of time chasing more after our own provision, than the Great Provider of all provision.
Take a few minutes to meditate on today’s scriptures, and pray that you will realize more deeply how very rich you truly are, especially compared to Elon or Bill, or Larry or Simon, because in comparison to you, they are on another level all together; and in God’s eyes, they are the ones who are broke.
You have all you need. You are a child of the King, and His Word is working in you, today.
