RICHES
RICHES
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. —I Timothy 6:17-19
“North American Christians are simply not doing enough. We are the richest people ever to walk the face of the earth, period. Yet, most of us live as thought there is nothing terribly wrong in the world. We attend our kids’ soccer games, pursue our careers, and take beach vacations while 40 percent of the world’s inhabitants struggle just to eat every day. And in our own backyards, the homeless, those residing in ghettos, and a wave of immigrants live in a world outside the economic and social mainstream of North America. We do not necessarily need to feel guilty about our wealth. But we do need to get up every morning with a deep sense that something is terribly wrong with the world and yearn and strive to do something about it. There is simply not enough yearning and striving going on.”— When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.
What are you and I doing about this? God did indeed created everything for our enjoyment, but are we doing “good…rich in good deeds… generous and willing to share” as stewards of what He has given us? Are we looking at eternal treasure and not just temporal comforts? How are we truly using what He has given us by His grace?
Many of us in the U.S.A might not consider ourselves to be rich, but when compare to the rest of the world we surely are. “While the average American lives on more than ninety dollars a day, approximately one billion people live on less than one dollar per day and 2.6 billion— 40% of the world’s population— live on less than two dollars per day.”— When Helping Hurts.
All of us who have called on the Name of the Lord Jesus for salvation will give an account to Him one day. May we be faithful, joyous and generous as we run the race He has laid out for each of us. May it be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTi3RJOVj2M
Dear Father, may I be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit’s guidance in what I am both to be and do to show forth Your glory. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.