Money has got to be one of the weirdest things ever. I received my financial updates today. A lot of my money has disappeared. It was there just a couple of months ago and now it is gone. It is like I was hit by an invisible burglar. There must have been a time when things were simpler. If we still bartered then it seems like it would be harder for my cows or your big pile of corn just to vanish. I have been in many places in the world where people have never had money vanish because they never had money accumulate in electronic piles. This past weekend I was in a very opulent part of the country. People had vacation houses and yachts and all kinds of things. Lots and lots of money had disappeared but they still had a ton of stuff. I am somewhere in the middle so it makes me a little bit of a commentator. The people with all the stuff lost the most and they feel it the most. But they still have a ton and yet they are talking about it and fretting about it and it seems like they are in quite a bit of pain. The poor people I have known have not lost anything. They never heard of the stock market. Their happiness or potential for happiness has not really taken a hit. I was talking to a friend about a prenuptial agreement a couple of years ago. He was very much into it since he was wealthy. It seemed to me that since the percentage is the same then the risk is the same for everyone. One half of a little only leaves you with half of a little. If you lose half of a lot you still have half a lot. But none of us feel like that. Years ago I thought I would be really lucky to have what I have today. Today I feel like I have a lot less than I should have. When was I better off? When I think of the people with the boats and the vacation houses and then I think of the people with a couple of chickens and three sets of clothes I have trouble deciding who the lucky ones are. Maybe that is why Jesus talked about money so much. Money is something I find myself wanting more of all the time but I am not convinced in the least that it has made me any happier in the long run. Money seems to break more promises than any lover I have ever had. So today, I am going to eat my dinner and be thankful for what God has given me today. If God chooses to take the rest of the money then I will be grateful there is nothing in the world that can leave me with less of Him.
Join in realizing the vision of Christ Community Chapel with Senior Pastor Joe Coffey
6 comments:
Hey Joe. We also got our piece of paper telling us how much money we lost. And then I realized: I never have had that "money." All I get is a piece of paper. I don't see a reason to be upset over a piece of paper.
"Our need is not to prove God’s faithfulness but to demonstrate our own, by trusting Him both to determine and to supply our needs according to His will."
John MacArthur
It is all God's isn't it. He supplied it, he owns it and yet we think it is ours and we earned it or deserve it. I say give more away and you will be richer. Is where we live now our true home or is it the Kingdom. Hold anything on this earth to tightly and it may be taken from you.
God is enough. Period.
I used to tell my wife in this society we live in ,money buys you not only " things " ,but freedom .I used to strive to make more money so I could have the freedom to live and travel later in life. After being diagnosed with a terminal illness in the prime of my life recently ,I soon realized without your health nothing else matters. The ironic thing is , I had just reached that part of my life where I had "made it " financially .God has taught me to enjoy NOW ,don't worry about the rest .
Dear Anonymous,
Can I pray for you and your illness? I am sorry to hear it but would be honored to bring you before the Father. Let me know.
Peace, Joe
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