03/17/2019
Has God provided you with ample wealth and provision? Do you lack for nothing, and thank Him for it each day? Do you go about your work, and ask Him to bless you even more? Well this is good, and some will prosper in this world, but if you look in the shadow that you cast there are many who are in need, and want for the very basic necessities of life... what have you done for them? What is the will of God for you, and how do you manage the wealth He has entrusted you with?
“Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”
Galatians 2:10 ESV
These are the words of Paul after he had met with the apostles regarding his desire to preach the gospel of the uncircumcised. They had approved his preaching, but they asked him to do one more thing... tend to the poor.
In this modern day in which there is a tendency for us to value “self” we gauge our success in life by what we have accumulated, and we have a tendency to lose sight of those with less. We say openly that all men are created equal, and yet we forget to look around us and ask this question...”If all men are created equal then how is it that I have so much, and others so little?” The answer to this question is a complex one with many moving parts, but rest assured that it is not the answer that the world provides which focuses on ambition, a person’s applied intellect, and hard work. You see, all of those characteristics, despite our propensity to believe they are controlled by us, and because of something we have done, have actually been given us by God. You could have very easily been born weak of mind, crippled so that hard work was not possible, stripped of ability, and destined to be crushed by society, but God gives to some greatly, others less, and to yet others nothing whatsoever. What part in making ourselves did you, or any of us play? So ask God what His will is for you, and what He desires you to do with what He has provided... the consequences of disobedience are grave.
“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.”
Luke 21:1-3 ESV
The point Jesus was making is this... God gives us what we have in life so that we can bring glory to Him by how we use it... not how much we acquire, but how well we do His will with what He has given us. So whether it is a bag of gold, or two small copper coins, God looks at the sacrifice we are making, and our humility in making it.
It is no good for us to gauge our giving based on what others think of it. There are people in this world that are multi-billionaires, and we read in the newspaper that over their lifetime they have given a hundred million dollars to charity. Based on our means we are inclined to think that they are massive philanthropists, and to honor them, but in fact what they have given might not amount to the interest that their holdings would earn if placed in a simple savings account over a single year. Each of us is here for a purpose, and God will judge us based on what we do with those things He has provided, and asked of us. He is going to look into our hearts. So what does your heart look like, how obedient are you to His will, and how will you be judged?
“And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'”
Matthew 25:40 ESV
I love this parable because Jesus is talking about hearts, and giving, but if you strip it down to the bare bones He is reiterating what He told us was the second most important commandment...
“And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:39 ESV
A few of years ago I had some small cards printed up that I carried in my wallet. Each card was printed with a list of the mercies that are contained in Matthew 25:35-36, and I would leave them on tables in restaurants where I had eaten, doctor’s offices, or gave them to those that I felt the spirit had asked me to touch. Six simple reminders, six little seeds of faith that might circumcise a heart, and save a life.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'”
Matthew 25:35-36 ESV
In this parable, those who do these things sit on the right hand of the king, but those who do not sit on his left...
“Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'”
Matthew 25:45 ESV
We justify the accumulation of things and wealth in our lives, and we convince ourselves that the will of God for us is to gather more, and more, but when we read the words of Jesus as He speaks of the King’s punishment for those on his left...
“"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Matthew 25:41 ESV
we see how dire the ramifications of the second most important commandment truly are, and begin to look again at how we are managing those things that we have been given, and the state of our heart as we give.
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."”
Matthew 25:46 ESV
So, there will be wealthy, and there will be poor, and each of us will be judged according to what they have been given. A wealthy man might need to give millions upon millions of dollars to achieve the same position before God that a poor man gains by offering a single meager meal. What is it that represents the widow’s mite in our lives, and what are we doing with it? As for why there are wealthy and poor, or healthy and lame, that is a lesson for another day.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for what you have provided me in my life, and instruct me as to how I should use it to accomplish your will. Forgive me Holy Father for those times when I haven’t done as you have wished. Forgive me for those who were hungry that I walked past on the street even as you turned my head towards them. Forgive me for my selfishness when you said give me your talents, and I did not. Forgive me for bragging when I should have obeyed your will in secret, providing for the needs of another in your name... not mine. Teach me Father to be not only a humble giver, but a cheerful giver who has no regret when I let go of what you have given me so that your will would be done. All the wealth of this world cannot buy a day of righteousness if not used as you direct us, because it is worthless of itself, and our true treasure is in heaven. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, who values equally the provision He has given each of us. Praised be the name of our God who holds our treasure at His feet for that day when we kneel there in judgement. All glory is yours Father, and all we are, and have, comes to us from you. Help us Merciful Lord to be humble in what you bless us with so that we can glorify you in all we give, and all we do.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV
Rich Forbes