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That said, let me ask you a very simple question: If your future could be the way you wanted it to be, what would
it be like?
As a simple exercise, supposing your future could be the way you'd like, think of all the things you dream about
obtaining, achieving or accomplishing in your lifetime, and put it down on paper.
Okay, let’s try another pointed question: Imagine that you only have a week to live. What dreams would you
eliminate from the list? Are there any desires you would add to it?
Whatever you wrote for either question, I'll bet it looks good to you. And why shouldn't it? The list is a recording of the
way you'd like for your future to be, if it could be any way that you want.
So my question to you is, why can't it be? Why can't the future be the way you would like? There's no reason your
future can not be of your own making. In fact, there is no chance that your future won't be of your own making.
The future is not simply a set of events waiting to happen. It's not a script with your name on it that you're predestined
to follow. The future can and will be whatever God has designed for you to become, as you work out His plan in your
life.
What's the difference between people who fulfill their destinies and those who don't? The only significant
difference is that people who become all they were designed to be are willing to set and work toward
challenging and rewarding goals. Understanding that fact alone is worth vast riches to you!
TRUE RICHES
There is a passage in the New Testament that defines true riches:
The Lord Jesus indicates there are "true riches," something more desirable than abundance of money. Obviously, from
what the Master said, every person has to choose whether they will serve God, or serve themselves by serving money.
People do this by basing their decisions on how much they personally will get out of something.
To determine how much you are serving money, ask yourself what weight money has in the decisions you make. When
deciding whether to do something, is money the main thing you consider? Would you turn down a more lucrative job
offer unless you believed God was leading you to accept that job? Or, would you make an automatic, no-brainer
decision simply because the job offered more money?
You see, the secret of true riches is the bare-bones fact that money is a poor god. Money can be a handy tool, but
money is a poor master. Looked at from a long-term perspective, money is also a poor provider:
Face it, history’s pages are filled with numerous times when the money people trusted in and build lives around
suddenly became worthless. The same thing can and will happen again. Here is the good news: Everything that money
cannot do, God can do.
Only God is dependable: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain
riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
God loves you and desires the best for you. He certainly has nothing against true riches. After all, He is
the Creator. God's Word gives us key promises that relate directly to His blessing. Never forget that we
surrender in obedience not in order to be blessed, but in expectation of blessing because we know of the
Father's great love and generosity for His children.
Let me share several of the Lord's promises of true riches for you to consider:
Multiplication–“Then God said, `Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all F2 the earth and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-28).
Favor—“And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they
requested” (Exodus 12:36).
God's face will shine on you—“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be
gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. So they shall put My name on the
children of Israel, and I will bless them" (Numbers 6:24-27).
Power to get wealth—“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,
that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Good success—“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night,
that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then
you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
Fulfilled promise—“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised.
There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses” (1 Kings 8:56).
Prosperity—“Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, `Let the
Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.’ And my tongue shall speak of Your
righteousness And of Your praise all the day long” (Psalm 35:27-28).
True riches, indeed!
As we live the truth of the promises of the Word, the Father delights to hold out for us not only that we partake of the
divine nature, but also that we can "escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:4) Truly, we
are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
Every good thing came from Him. However, the reason God does not want us to trust in riches is because they are
uncertain and will fail us. Only God is certain. Therefore, we should trust in His Word, for that trust will not lead to
disappointment, for the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).
As you plant seed, expect a harvest in every area of your life!
it be like?
As a simple exercise, supposing your future could be the way you'd like, think of all the things you dream about
obtaining, achieving or accomplishing in your lifetime, and put it down on paper.
Okay, let’s try another pointed question: Imagine that you only have a week to live. What dreams would you
eliminate from the list? Are there any desires you would add to it?
Whatever you wrote for either question, I'll bet it looks good to you. And why shouldn't it? The list is a recording of the
way you'd like for your future to be, if it could be any way that you want.
So my question to you is, why can't it be? Why can't the future be the way you would like? There's no reason your
future can not be of your own making. In fact, there is no chance that your future won't be of your own making.
The future is not simply a set of events waiting to happen. It's not a script with your name on it that you're predestined
to follow. The future can and will be whatever God has designed for you to become, as you work out His plan in your
life.
What's the difference between people who fulfill their destinies and those who don't? The only significant
difference is that people who become all they were designed to be are willing to set and work toward
challenging and rewarding goals. Understanding that fact alone is worth vast riches to you!
TRUE RICHES
There is a passage in the New Testament that defines true riches:
And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you
into everlasting habitations. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what
is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will
commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you
what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he
will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:9-13)
The Lord Jesus indicates there are "true riches," something more desirable than abundance of money. Obviously, from
what the Master said, every person has to choose whether they will serve God, or serve themselves by serving money.
People do this by basing their decisions on how much they personally will get out of something.
To determine how much you are serving money, ask yourself what weight money has in the decisions you make. When
deciding whether to do something, is money the main thing you consider? Would you turn down a more lucrative job
offer unless you believed God was leading you to accept that job? Or, would you make an automatic, no-brainer
decision simply because the job offered more money?
You see, the secret of true riches is the bare-bones fact that money is a poor god. Money can be a handy tool, but
money is a poor master. Looked at from a long-term perspective, money is also a poor provider:
- Money cannot supply many important things.
Money may buy companionship, but it cannot buy love.
Money may buy a house, but it cannot buy a home.
Money may buy a bed, but it cannot buy rest.
Money may buy you thrills, but it cannot buy continuing satisfaction.
Money may buy you food, but it cannot guarantee you will have the health to eat it.
Money may buy you doctors, but it cannot buy you health.
Money cannot buy you peace of mind and freedom from fear and worry.
Money cannot buy you protection from every possible calamity.
Face it, history’s pages are filled with numerous times when the money people trusted in and build lives around
suddenly became worthless. The same thing can and will happen again. Here is the good news: Everything that money
cannot do, God can do.
Only God is dependable: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain
riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
God loves you and desires the best for you. He certainly has nothing against true riches. After all, He is
the Creator. God's Word gives us key promises that relate directly to His blessing. Never forget that we
surrender in obedience not in order to be blessed, but in expectation of blessing because we know of the
Father's great love and generosity for His children.
Let me share several of the Lord's promises of true riches for you to consider:
Multiplication–“Then God said, `Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all F2 the earth and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-28).
Favor—“And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they
requested” (Exodus 12:36).
God's face will shine on you—“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be
gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. So they shall put My name on the
children of Israel, and I will bless them" (Numbers 6:24-27).
Power to get wealth—“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,
that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Good success—“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night,
that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then
you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
Fulfilled promise—“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised.
There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses” (1 Kings 8:56).
Prosperity—“Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, `Let the
Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.’ And my tongue shall speak of Your
righteousness And of Your praise all the day long” (Psalm 35:27-28).
True riches, indeed!
As we live the truth of the promises of the Word, the Father delights to hold out for us not only that we partake of the
divine nature, but also that we can "escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:4) Truly, we
are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
Every good thing came from Him. However, the reason God does not want us to trust in riches is because they are
uncertain and will fail us. Only God is certain. Therefore, we should trust in His Word, for that trust will not lead to
disappointment, for the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11).
As you plant seed, expect a harvest in every area of your life!
TRUE RICHES
...What Harvest Are You Reaping?
The 20th Century German poet Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote:
Yes, I know there are extremes on the subject of Christians and riches, but lets agree
on the fact that true riches involves wealth in all areas of your life...spiritually,
emotionally and physically.
...What Harvest Are You Reaping?
The 20th Century German poet Rainer Maria Rilke once wrote:
- If your daily life seems poor,
do not blame it;
blame yourself that you are not poet enough
to call forth its riches;
for the Creator,
there is no poverty.
Yes, I know there are extremes on the subject of Christians and riches, but lets agree
on the fact that true riches involves wealth in all areas of your life...spiritually,
emotionally and physically.
 |
| FROM THE BEST BOOK What you sow, so shall you reap. —Galatians 6:7 |
| THE COUNTRY PARSON, Benjamin Parsons, has tended to hurts and hearts in North America's most remote frontier regions, including the Pacific Northwest, the Canadian Rockies and Alaska. |
Go to the index of selected recent COUNTRY PARSON
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