TRUE RICHES!

TRUE RICHES!

Prov 10:22

22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

1 Tim 6:9-10

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

          Suppose you had been born to a family in a truly third world country instead of in America. Look around and take inventory of all your things and then begin to throw most of it away. Remove most of the furniture except for an old kitchen table and a wooden chair or two. You have never had a bed so replace it with a few old blankets. Watch as both your cars evaporate and disappear. Go to your closet and remove all but your oldest and most ill-fitting clothing. If you are a man, keep one pair of old pants and one shirt. A woman would keep one old, all-purpose, dress. Throw away all your shoes. Rip out the plumbing, turn off the water and throw out anything that runs on electricity. We will stop here but you get the idea. We are blessed!

          As indicated by our text, it is possible to be so captivated by greed that one’s life becomes enveloped in sorrow. Paul likens it to many arrows shot by the bow of circumstance and disappointment. Frustration pursues the greedy like a hunter and shoots at him with each new unfulfilled desire. The irony of greed is that it is never satisfied.

          There is a richness that comes from a devoted life. The believer that finds his treasures in Christ will never lack supply and will never be disappointed. He expands his passion for the purposes of God and delights to do His will. His wealth grows with each act of generosity. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:18 that he had enough because he had received the gifts brought by their messenger. We suspect it was meager compared to our standards. The real riches were in the church that sent it and the messenger that brought it.

Ps 16:11

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Dear Lord, forgive my grasping for more and whining for what I think is my poverty. I am blessed and showered with treasures. At Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. AMEN