Riches @ MindSay 
money
Ever wanted to be rich?
Yeah. Me too.
I read what has happened with the financial institutions and credit institutions, and although I kinda understand, the deep down economic reasons—I don’t fully comprehend it. But it looks like a substantial amount of greed and foolishness has been at work.
We don’t have a huge issue in our thinking concerning greed here in the States. Oh, sure, we consider it a negative attribute. However, as long as we don’t hurt anybody, I think most of us don’t think it’s a big deal, compared to many other possibly injurious things a person could do.
I was reading Psalm 106 today. The psalmist was chronicling how God had delivered Israel from Egypt and how the Israelites had responded to that deliverance. It wasn’t long after they’d entered the Promised Land that they did the same things the people of the culture that they were told to conquer did. They built, worshiped and scarified—even their own sons and daughters—to idols. The writer said, “…but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.”
So back to the question at the top: Ever wanted to be rich?
Paul wrote in a letter to his spiritual son, Timothy: “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. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pang.”
Perhaps you’ve read this, and because you’re not Donald Trump or Bill Gates, you just read over it. However, I wonder if we Christians here in the States have behaved like the children of Israel did when they entered Canaan—they were assimilated. They didn’t conquer the culture. Have we—concerning the issue of riches—“mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did”?
What does an American follower of Jesus look like? What does a church full of American followers of Jesus look like? I don’t know for sure, although I’ve seen some good glimpses. I can see how I’ve ignored Paul’s warning about wanting to be rich. Does this mean I should live in a monastery and take a vow of poverty? I don’t think so. We need to ask God how to remain engaged in this culture and not “learn to do as they do.”
Once upon a time there was this girl who had four lovers. She loved the 4th lover the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the 3rd lover very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.
She also loved her 2nd lover. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.
The girls 1st lover was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first lover. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him.
One day, the girl contracted a deadly illness, and she knew her time was short. She thought of her pampered life and wondered, I now have four lovers with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'
Thus, she asked the 4th lover, I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'No way!', replied the 4th lover, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd lover, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'No!', replied the 3rd lover. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'
Her heart sank and turned cold. She then asked the 2nd lover, 'I have always
turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd lover. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and saw her first lover. He was very skinny and obviously suffered from malnutrition and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'
In truth, we each have 4 lovers in our lives:
Our 4th lover is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look and feel good, it will leave us when we d ie.
Our 3rd lover is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.
Our 2nd lover is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the best they can do is stay by us up to the grave.
Our 1st lover is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us where ever we go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part that will follow us to the throne of God and continue throughout Eternity.
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means deciding to see beyond life's imperfections .
Authur unknown
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You Are a Roller Coaster |
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Would you like to win the lottery?
Me too. Having a cool million or so in the bank sure seems like it would make lots of problems go away.
But here I am again finding that the way I think and the way God thinks are in total opposition.
Darn.
Here’s what God thinks about wanting to get rich:
“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”
Looks like I'm going to have to change what I long for.
As I drove home this evening after dropping my 20 yr old and 17 yr old at their dad's, I was overcome with emotion. It probably sounds trite and well, corney, but ...
Though we don't have great wealth and stacks of gifts to sort through, "House O'Dreams" (as Sandyquill so aptly named us) is among the richest. We love one another ... even the kids! And, yes, we are each healthy. What more could anyone on this planet ask for ... ? No post-holiday let down from love!
~ B
P.S. Pics on their way, as promised tootboy !!!
This is the latest poetry challenge...number three...hope you enjoy...
POVERTY
Gay apparel, star of the show
Dancing, merry, nature aglow
Flowers beauteous, crops abound
Splendor of riches; summers profound
A slow death seen as foliage shrivels
Carpeting ground, colors fizzle
Come first frost, winter invading
The palette gray, brightness is fading
Trees barren, devoid of leaves
Shivering, lifeless, as one who grieves
Stark land, fallow of field,
Lackluster scene, to death all will yield
Poverty stricken, all seems but loss
Dying seed, to ground it is tossed
Ultimate sacrifice, life being given
As on the cross Christ’s body was riven
At spring’s first dawn a corn of wheat
Will be the sustaining of life so sweet
When harvested, the hungry will be fed
From the life sustained in one loaf of bread
Wracked in poverty? All is not lost
After dying, giving His life on the cross
Jesus rose again amid the strife
Offering us sweet newness of life.
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