Only A Few People Are Rich

The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1

There are very few people in life who are rich. Those who never have to worry about money or bills or getting something to eat. Most everyone, even those who are well off are living within six months of going broke. Something can always happen. An illness can occur. A product can be made obsolete. Divorce, alcoholism, prescription drug abuse; all of these things are the sins of the Upper Middle Class.

How well we are doing today may not be the indicator of how well tomorrow will be. We pastors always talk about building your fortune in the next world and it’s always hard to explain what we mean. But I think we’ve seen too many families fail because of money. We’ve seen too many divorces of convenience. We’ve seen too many people driven to the edge in the pursuit of “happiness.”

And, we’ve seen time and time again families that are loving and caring who have built their homes around worshiping God. Kids are “made” to go to church and Youth Groups. Blessings are said before every meal. Husbands and wives go together to couples classes or mission trips. We see happiness. Problems still occur. Fights still happen. But in the vast majority of families who place God in their midst, even when hardships happen they usually always still have each other. And the strength of God to go before them.

Let us pray. Dear Lord, forgive us when what we say is not what we think, and when our actions do not live up to our words of faith.

Forgive and live in us that we might become a people of integrity. Shower this day with your blessings, that we might share your good news with others. Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light. Send out your light and your truth, O God, and let them lead us, through Jesus Christ, your Son, in whom we pray. Amen.