06/16/2020
How content are we in our spiritual lives? Are we satisfied with what the Lord provides us, or do we approach our faith like we do our earthly labor; driven by dissatisfaction, and an unending need for more? If we climb mountains isn’t there always another peak to summit, or if we are a fisherman isn’t there one more cast of our net to make? Yet as believers, we should be happy with where God is taking us, and content with His daily provision... our lives should be lived peacefully each day in the presence of God.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:11 ESV
In the story “A Christmas Carol”, written by Charles Dickens, the character Ebenezer Scrooge is a wealthy old miser whose god is money, and he has an employee named Bob Cratchit who, despite his dedication, and having a handicapped son, is kept in absolute poverty by Scrooge’s selfishness through meager wages. Dickens draws for us the comparison of a miser who is hard hearted, and miserable in his life, with that of a faithful man who lives a hand to mouth existence, but has a loving family, and whose greatest desire In life is for the healing of his son’s bad leg. One man had everything, and yet couldn’t find happiness, while the other had nearly nothing, but found comfort, and joy, in his family, and God.
““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Matthew 6:24 ESV
So today I want us to ask ourselves a single question.... “Do we live our lives of faith like an earthly miser who wants ever more gratification, or do we bask in it like a man who has nothing, and is desperately poor, but has unending joy, peace, and rest in God, and Jesus Christ?”
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV
You see, even as people of faith we can be unhappy, and our joy unrealized, if we can’t let go of the greed in our life... a state of being that robs us of God’s peace, and blessings. By approaching faith in this way we will have made a god of our religion, and missed the reason why Jesus didn’t come to us as a wealthy King. To God, we were the one thing of value that was worth the life of His Son, and to Jesus, obeying the will of God was His greatest desire... this is what led Him to the cross. So what do we value most in our faith; is it to love God as He loves us, and to obey Him as Jesus did, or to gather religious gold for ourselves?
““And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Matthew 6:5 ESV
At their death, some who are poor will be surprised at the spiritual wealth they have amassed in heaven, and equally, others who are wealthy, and have given much gold to the Church, will be surprised to find themselves destitute, and impoverished, before God. So whether earthly or spiritual gold, seeking wealth becomes a temptation, and a stumbling block.
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:9, 11-12 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your love for us; thank you for your Son Jesus who you sent to redeem us from sin and death, and who obeyed your will faithfully on earth, even as He does now in heaven. Thank you Lord for opening our eyes so that we now see that we receive your greatest blessings by doing those things in which we deny ourselves... those things in which we love, serve, and obey you. Help us to find strength in our faith, and to need nothing more than you in our lives for them to be complete, peaceful, and joyous. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us, and pours your grace over us without recompense. Help us Lord to likewise treat others; without consideration of reward; other than your pleasure in us. Great are you who can forgive what we might consider unforgivable, and who teaches us to follow you in this way. We praise you in our meager existence, and consider ourselves wealthy by your presence alone. Merciful are you who loves us despite our unworthy nature, and saved us though we were yet sinners. We worship you Father, and lift your name up in the secret places of our prayers, and by performing hidden mercies for those in need. Let no man see us as you do, and none honor us for what we do in accomplishing your will, because in these things all glory is yours Lord, now, and forevermore.
“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:2-12 ESV
Rich Forbes