Issue 1666 – Wealthy – February 6, 2025
This morning’s image is a squatter’s village in South Africa. It isn’t a good photo; I took it from a moving vehicle while on a ministry trip almost 25 years ago. The contrast between rich and poor there is nearly too great to comprehend. I saw similar things some years later, doing missionary work in rural Southeast Asia.
While there, I began to realize how wealthy I really am. I don’t have to miss meals; in fact, I could stand to skip a few. I have a solid, warm house over my head with heat, electricity, and running water. I’ve always thought my office was too small, but I saw a house where a dozen people lived that is even smaller than my office, and they were fortunate to have it.
I can read and write. I can attend worship in safety. I can walk the streets in relative safety and get medical care if I need it.
When I returned home and walked through our front entranceway, I saw more shoes than I could count. There were work shoes, casual shoes, athletic shoes, sandals, and winter boots. Most people in the African and Asian villages had at most one pair of sandals.
I’m rich beyond belief by the standards of how most people in the world live. Almost anyone in North America is wealthy beyond measure. Even the homeless I’ve met have more to eat than the people in some of these villages. If you live in North America, you are rich.
Scripture has something to say to those of us who are rich.
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. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.1 Timothy 6:17-19
These words aren’t designed to make us feel guilty. They are intended to point us in the direction of eternal rewards.
I’m also rich in a more incredible way than money or things can ever buy. As a Christian, God’s grace is lavished on me.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight Ephesians 1:7-8
I’m materially wealthy compared to 80% of the world and eternally wealthy because of God’s grace.
Until next time, take time to reflect on how wealthy you are compared to most of the world. Give God thanks and consider how you might use your abundance to further His kingdom.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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