Rich...

Rich… Are you ?

I had a conversation recently about how it is you put someone in the category of being ‘rich’.

Immediately, the American mind goes to $$$$ doesn’t it?

Money can sure makes life easier… in some ways.

It gets us things, pays for other people to do things for us. It enables us to have bigger and better. It makes it possible to go places, to play, to see the world.

But money is only a tool. And like all tools, it can make a job easier, it can be used properly, and used well.

Or not.

I am rich.

I have more food than I eat. I have more clothes than I wear. I have more rooms than I occupy. I have money enough with some to spare, and a savings account.

I am convicted tonight about how I use what I have. I personally know people who have to struggle to buy groceries. I know people who have to deny themselves in order to provide for the children in their care.

On my refrigerator, there are pictures of two children who benefit from a mere pittance of my money each month. I only give up what would buy a new blouse or a trip out to eat, and they are provided with food that is not available, clean water, clothing, and a chance at an education that we would consider primitive.

And I am convicted tonight that I somehow consider that I’ve done enough. I take the rest of what I have and spend it on whatever whim I have at the moment. After all, I work hard… right?

I think of Jesus’ words….

“…..it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matt. 19:23,24)

It is not money that causes the difficulty. It is the fact that we choose it over following Jesus. And that is the most costly thing we could ever do.

Priorities...

Priorities… It is so easy to get them wrong. Why do we so often put value on something worthless…

Reflecting on the fifth section of Psalm 119, I am drawn to verse 37, “Turn my eyes away from things that are worthless….keep me alive as You have promised.”

It is difficult to keep priorities in order. It is easy to be deceived and believe a lie about the worth of some ‘thing’.

We mistakenly think that in ‘things’ we secure ourselves somehow.…then the enemy comes with accusations, pointing out the mistakes and the foolishness, urging us in some new direction where he tells us that security might be found.

The enemy of our souls would have us continue to seek fulfillment and life down those empty paths he points out. Paths that take us in the opposite direction of God and true life.

In the words of this Psalm, David prays for divine perspective and divine restraint.

Tonight, I also pray for those.

I pray that my eyes do not look upon worthless things and believe them to have more value than they do.

I pray that the habits and manners of my life do not divert or detour me from the life God intends for me.

Father, I pray that in YOUR way, You will give me life, and empower me to see the richness of it. And I thank You for the magnificent wealth of my now….