The last few days I have been thinking alot about where we are in life. Not just our physical location, although that adds to it, but more about our sense of well-being. We’ve been retired for a number of years and life is good.
When we were younger and our children were small I used to imagine going to the grocery store and being able to buy what I needed and some of what I wanted without using a calculator to keep track of my total. That was my idea of being rich.
I also imagined a time when I would be able to go all week without doing laundry because we would still have plenty of clothes to wear. Enough socks and underwear to last the week. Yes, according to my own standards we are rich. Those are the insignificant things in life.
These are the things that now fill my life with richness. God’s love and goodness never ends. Our children and grandchildren love us. Our friends do too. Our home is comfortable. We are healthy, we can travel in our RV. We are content. We have joy. Our lives are richly blessed!
“Devotion to God is, in fact, a way for people to be very rich, but only if it makes them satisfied with what they have.” I Timothy 6:6 ERV
What things in life make you feel rich?
Conversations that are rich with laughter. The presence of family and friends. Surviving 2020 with health and home intact.
“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:15-17 ERV
Let’s put it this way. When Christ, who is the word, dwells in us we become rich in wisdom. Wisdom is a commodity that money can’t buy but dwelling in the Word makes wisdom available.
“Wisdom is worth much more than gold. Understanding is worth much more than silver.”
Proverbs 16:16 ERV
“Yes, the Scriptures say, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” 12 It says this because there is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is the Lord of all people. And he richly blesses everyone who looks to him for help. 13 Yes, “everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13 ERV
These gifts that we all desire – peace, thankfulness, wisdom, help. A relationship with Christ, the Word, brings the richness of these gifts to our lives. We are rich with God’s goodness.
Merry Christ – mas!