This verse is a tricky one as it is basically saying that a
man with great wealth is going to encounter trouble because of that wealth…while
a poor man is free of this same trouble. More money, more problems. So are we
supposed to live a life of poverty? Are we supposed to give away all our wealth
and seek to live the life of a poor man? Make no mistake, every dollar that we
have been blessed with through the good work of our minds and bodies is a
direct gift from the Lord (James 1:17). So wealth is not necessarily a bad
thing…when handled appropriately, it is a very good thing…in fact, it’s a great
thing! The trouble comes when wealth starts to turn sour…when wealth starts to
take over and turn us away from the Lord…when our lives start to reflect the
popular phrase “Money over everything”. Money can so easily turn our focus
inward, convincing us that this life we are “renting” is somehow all about us…that
our well-being, our plan, our wants supersede anything and everything else. God
blesses us with wealth to not only live comfortably and joyfully in our own
lives, but to also serve him by positively impacting the lives of others. It’s
God’s love flowing through the dollar bill…and we have the incredible privilege
of being the hands and feet that reign down that love on another. When we provide
a meal to someone hungry…stock the pantry of a struggling family…buy a tank of
gas for someone on their last dollar…we are serving the Lord with the wealth that
he has provided. We are using our money appropriately. Our actions don’t have
to change the world on a monumental scale…but they can change the world of one
single person in need. There are numerous examples of Jesus impacting a single
life throughout the New Testament…and one life touched is worth all the effort we
can muster. I pray that we may take the wealth given by our Lord, and allow His
love to flow through it, reigning down on those in need. To God be the glory!
No comments:
Post a Comment