HOW RICH ARE YOU?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Then He said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions.”
(Luke 12:15)

MEDITATION:
If someone asked you to describe the word ‘rich’, what would you say?
Would you say,
    “It means having a lot”
or would you say,
    “It means wanting less”

There is a story about a poor man, who had an overnight guest,
and as he showed him to his humble bedroom in the hayloft he
said,
    “If there is anything you want, let us know, and
      we’ll come and show you how to get along without it”

Some people make themselves miserable by wanting more than
they can ever have. They spend an entire lifetime in pursuit of
‘things’, but in their quest, they often forfeit developing good
relationships and friendships. Sometimes they can even become
‘detached’ from their own family.

Some people work multiple jobs in their effort to satisfy an
insatiable desire for more, better, and newer things. There
seems to be a feeling that their feel identity is determined
by how much they have, and the quality of what they own.

Rather than being content with ‘good enough’, some create
financial stress for themselves in their pursuit of ‘the best’.
If we truly want to minimize stress and enjoy relationships
with others, we need to develop an attitude of ‘wanting less’
and ‘being content with what we have, and can afford’.

As believers, we should have a desire for the same qualities of
Jesus, the One we follow and worship. The scriptures teach us
that He was satisfied, and yet He had much less than most of us.

Look at the warning He gave a man who said
he was ready to follow Him everywhere He went:
    As they were walking along the road, a man said to him,
    “I will follow you wherever you go.”Jesus replied, “Foxes
    have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no
    place to lay his head.”
    (Luke 9:58)

We can see that Jesus was telling the man he should prepare to
be happy with less. He wanted the man to understand the kind
of commitment he was making. In order to be a true follower of
Jesus, He would need to give up any desires for more, better, and
newer, and accept what is adequate and good enough.

ACTION:
Would you rather be someone who is ‘rich with possessions’, or
‘rich with wanting less’? If your desire is to be more like Jesus,
then you would want to have His perspective on wealth, wouldn’t
you? That means being content with the blessings He has given you.

If you cannot be happy with wanting less, then you might be
losing your focus on Jesus, and failing to allow His attitudes
and attributes to permeate your life. An unhealthy pursuit of
material wealth, is probably an indication of discontentment
and a lack of appreciation for what God has given you.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for how You have blessed me
in so many ways. Forgive me if I have failed to appreciate
Your blessings. Convict me if my desire is more on attaining
material things, than it is on developing my relationship with
You, and with others. Teach me how to be more content with
what I have, and less concerned about wanting more. Help me
to appreciate everything You have given me. May I always show
a grateful and contented heart that confirms my faith in You.”

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