When my daughter was young she told Pa that she wanted to go to Disney World again. He told her they would have to save their money to go again - after all he was not rich! Dad was so proud to tell me what Sarah said next. "Pa, you are rich - you have me and Ivey!" Out of the mouths of babes! Real riches are not about money!
I was reminded of this in my daily Bible reading. Proverbs 14: 17-21, "I love those who love me and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full."
Throughout Scripture God has told us He will bless us if we are forgiving, honest and loving towards our neighbors. Psalm 41: 1, "Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble." Psalm 112: 9, "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor." Deuteronomy 15: 10, "Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. God will judge and punish us if we do not obey. The first commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. The second commandment is to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. When we love our neighbor, we are showing our love for God.
In this dark and selfish world, we have a choice to make and God's promise of blessings should motivate Christians! We can have a happy and blessed life or a miserable and troubled life. Loving others can bring us happiness. Acts 20: 35, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" Love like Jesus!
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