Enriched in every way

“For in him you have been enriched in every way…” I Cor. 1:5

Just sitting here contemplating this verse…its true how full my life is. The word enriched means to be made rich to the point of overflow. I have been given the gift of eternal life and the gift of fullness of life. God’s love has been poured out lavishly into my heart me through Jesus. So much so that He has washed away my millions of sins. I have been given gifts to teach and so God’s word overflows in my heart. I have been given the gift to give so resources flow into through my life. I have been given a wife and through her have obtained the favor of the Lord. I have been given a son who brings a continual flow of joy and enthusiasm into my life. Now I discover that God is giving me another child…are you kidding? I could go on and on....deep fulfilling friendships…income, house, more friends etc…yes I am enriched in every way! I can’t believe I get to live this life. Thank You Father!!!

More is for me?

Three days ago, I received a check for $350 dollars. It was extra money that came in from an unusual source. I immediately thought about what I would do with my money. I have some debt that I’m aggresively paying off and I thought for sure that was what it would go to. Then I was also reminded of some financial challenges at the church. Then the wrestling match in my heart began. Do you ever have this happen to you? Do you ever have any extra money come to you? Is the extra always meant for you or does God sometimes want you to give to the cause of Christ? I also know of a single mom who is about to be laid off from her job for two weeks while the company does some end of summer repositioning. Is some of the money for her and her child?

I am learning that more is not always for me. I am learning that God provided it and He has plans for it. Sometimes it is for me and sometimes it is not. I must listen to His promptings in my spirit and live generously if I am going to be good at being rich.

Besides I think I will feel much more gratified by giving it to the Lord than spending it on my own self interests.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Tim 6:17-19

Satan money trix

Satan has been discribed as the “great deceiver”.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9 (NKJV)

He uses money more than anything else to hurt us and rob from us Joy and purpose. His power is the power of the lie. It is His greatest skill. For thousands of years, he and his demonic legions have studied the weakness of man and have found no larger vulnerability than our love for money. He is a master at exploiting this area-He goes straight to the root the human heart. His strategy is to get us to love money and have it actually replace God-even become god to us.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10

One we wander away from trusting God for our provision, we fall into any number of well-designed traps. They don’t look all that bad at first or we wouldn’t buy in to it but they are very cunning. Only after a period of time, do we realize (if we even do then), that we have lost our heart. Only after it is too late do we see we have hurt those we love the most. We thought we were chasing the American dream only to wake up in a nightmare of debt, divorce and depression. I have seen this. I have experienced some of it. Lost time. Wasted money. Grief.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

The challenge we face on a daily basis is to examine our heart, humbly direct it toward the hope that is found in God and the riches of His Son the Lord Jesus. Then recognize and appreciate all that I already have from Him and enjoy it.

Rich Guidelines

Command those who are rich in this present world … to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Ok so we are learning how to be rich. We are going to stop chasing that elusive carrot and find and experience financial peace. We are learning how to take hold of the life that is truly life! Being rich God’s way runs counter to what you will see in culture and on TV. In fact, it runs against the grain of your natural inclinations. We have three things to do in order to be good at being rich:

1. Realize that you are already financially rich. Do not spend any more time trying to get rich. If God blesses you with more money fine-just don’t stress trying to lay up treasure on earth.
2. Enrich yourself in good deeds. Spend your time trying to make the lives of others better. Serve or volunteer. Get involved in your church or community.
3. Live on less than what you make and give to the cause of Jesus Christ. There are various ways to do this…your church, people in need, relief organizations.

This is how God says that rich people are to live rich and full lives. He also promises that it is a solid investment strategy for the next life. A heavenly retirement plan if you will.