By Simeon

Read: Leviticus 7:28-9:6; Mark 3:31-4:25; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 10:5

It is better to be godly and have little, than be evil and rich.
For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
But the Lord takes care of the godly.
Psalm 37:16-17

Relate:
As a missionary kid growing up in the Philippines, I never had much. Although we didn’t struggle to have food, and had a roof over our heads, we were not well off like some of the people I know. Being thankful for what I had was a problem I struggled with, because I could look around at my Filipino friends and see their abundance of stuff, their huge house, and their nice cars, whereas I had less, and coveted what they had. It was only later that I truly accepted and was grateful for the things God gave me, including his grace and love. 

The wealthy friends that I have don’t have a solid faith, combining their love for possessions and wealth, and their love for God, mixing them together and twisting them into one, polluting the truth of God. The riches that I so desperately desired turned out to be the reason some of their parents would get divorced, or have an affair. The world tricks us into believing that we need its possessions and its riches, yet God does not say so. Growing up with little and learning to trust God was the greatest blessing I could have asked for. It taught me that even in the little I had, and when as a family, we were just scraping by, God was there with us and would never forsake us. And he never did. I have encountered God through many small miracles in my life, from the healing of sickness, the providing when we didn’t have anything and many more. Having to lean on him because I didn’t have anything taught me to trust and confidence that God would do something for me in my times of need. On the other hand, the rich trust in their own confidence, trusting their riches and wealth to save and satisfy them, missing out on the bigger picture of God’s love and kindness toward them. They will be shattered when Jesus comes back in glory because they did not fully put their faith and hope in, “the living God who is the savior of all people, and especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). But, those who have believed in God will be taken care of, just as God has taken care of me and my family.

React:

This verse in Psalms does not imply that the rich cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, but it does say that godliness is better than riches. In my life, even when I have had plenty I have been reminded and I encourage you to remember when God has done something for you in your life when you couldn’t do anything about a situation that you were in. The godly will inherit heaven, and God will shatter the wicked. Look at your life, and if you see that you struggle to accept God as your savior when you have plenty, find a way to develop a relationship with him, and moderate the time and energy that you spend pursuing money or things in this world. Put your faith in God and he will remember you.

Respond:

Dear God,
I am sorry for the times that I have not put you first and trusted in you to take care of me. Give me faith in you in all situations, and show me that I do not need the things of this world, but that you are the pathway to salvation. I thank you for the gifts that you have given me and the miracles that you have shown me in my life. Help me to trust in you in all situations and not to let the things of this world hold me back from you. In your precious name,
Amen.

Nearly all posts in February and March have as special guest authors the Juniors from the Christian Living class at Faith Academy.