REAL RICHES

Fiery gospel preacher Adrian Rogers once said, “We try to keep up with the Joneses. But when we finally catch up with them, they refinance.” He’s also quoted as saying, “We spend the first half of our lives WASTING our health to get wealth; the second half of our lives we spend our wealth to get back our health.” Some may chuckle a bit at these realities, but they are precisely that—grim realities about our often-distorted perspectives on money and what is for many an insatiable fixation on materialism.

Our title verse points to what the Christ follower’s aim should always be—a pursuit of the true and eternal riches attainable by laying up treasures that no one can steal, no government can levy burdensome taxes against, and that will never become tarnished, or require replacement. [See Matthew 6:19] It all goes back to covetousness, which has historically been at the route of much discontentment and unrest in the world.

In light of the idolization of money in the hearts of many —including those who profess to trust in Christ—it’s essential that we embrace a biblical perspective on financial matters and take steps to keep materialism at bay! Christ declared that we will always have the poor among us [Matthew 26:11]. In proclaiming this fact near the time of His sacrificial death and resurrection, He was returning His followers’ gaze-- as well as yours and mine-- to remembering our responsibility to those among us who are truly needy, rather than remaining preoccupied throughout these temporal lives with what we feel we deserve and should possess.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD? Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God [Proverbs 30:8, 9;]. Thank You, in Christ’s name; amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs