2008-02-27 01:01:00
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).
Yesterday I took a long walk along the beach and returned on the first road parallel to the ocean, which passed scores of high-rise vacation condos. I was dressed in rather scraggly but comfortable clothing not expecting to see anyone I knew and certainly not interested in impressing anyone.
A man who had the appearance of one who might be homeless approached me and said, "It's nice to meet a rich man." We engaged in a brief conversation where I learned his name was Carl. His words came as quite a surprise but also seemed like a golden opportunity for a witness. I responded, "Yes, I am indeed rich in Jesus." We shared for a few more minutes a spiritual perspective on riches and I gave him a tract card. I have no idea what motivated his greeting but it sure got me to thinking. I suppose I might be rich in comparison to him since riches are so relative. I am certainly rich in this world's goods (as are virtually all reading this), in comparison to those living in many regions of this world.
I have long been intrigued by the daily text and have written and preached on it several times. But today I want to especially focus on the phrase, "rich toward God." The main character in the text was not "rich toward God." He did not use his resources for God but instead selfishly built bigger barns for himself. I need to consider: Am I a kingdom builder or a barn builder? Am I rich toward God or rich toward this world's goods?
Being rich toward God is a form of wealth entirely different than all worldly measurements. Actually I would be pretty certain (without naming names) that many of the famously rich in this world are not at all "rich toward God." I am equally certain that there are many who live their lives in relative obscurity with little of this world's goods who are truly "rich toward God."
What's your fundamental outlook on life today? Are you storing up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal?" (Matthew 6:19). Or are you storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal? (Matthew 6:20).
Today let us commit ourselves to being "rich toward God!" Let us seek first His Kingdom! Let us build our lives on the solid rock of Christ and be like the person whom Jesus called the "wise man" (Matthew 7:24). When the torrential storms beat upon houses built by human hands they're likely to perish. But when our hearts are shaped by the divine hand of God the storms of life cannot destroy that which is imperishable.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Jesus, help us to hear Your words and obey them. When the rains fall, the floods rise, and the winds blow we may be shaken but we will not crash, for our hope is in the One who walks on water and calms the tempest seas. Jesus, You are the Solid Rock upon which we stand when all other ground is sinking sand. Amen.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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