Sunday, January 8, 2012

Your Wealth Comes From God

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

How much are you worth? How much value do you have? All those who immediately started calculating their financial assets, please raise your hand. Yeah. That’s pretty much what I expected. Most of you raised your hand -- and you’re all wrong.

Your true wealth isn’t calculated by how much money you have in the bank, how much your house is worth or even your income. True wealth comes from Jesus. It is your salvation.

Your Father is the God of all creation. He is the King of kings. You are royalty. You are a prince or princess. You are an heir to eternal life with your Father. That is your worth. That is your value.

How often we lose sight of that. We get so caught up in the roller coaster that is our life that we neglect things that have eternal ramifications. We choose to spend time and effort on things that won’t matter and neglect things that have such great value.

Don’t get me wrong. We need to work and earn a living. We need to support ourselves and our families. We need to eat and sleep. But we also need to spend time each day with our Father. He so wants us to know Him. He wants us to desire time with Him -- not because we need something but because we love Him.

We expend so much time and energy trying to get things. More and more things. We can never seem to have enough things. And just when we get that thing we thought we had to have, we want another thing that’s a little more advanced. Something just released or something that a friend or co-worker just got.

None of it matters. Oh, we might smile about it for a little while. But that fades away and we’re unsatisfied again. We keep trying to fill that empty spot inside of us with things. We want to value ourselves, and those around us, based on their things. Things that really don’t matter. When will we ever learn that the only thing that will fill that emptiness inside is Jesus.

How valuable are you? Look in the mirror. Consider who you are. Think of your family lineage. Remember Jesus. He claimed you as His own. Do you claim Him? Do you value Him as much as He values you?

Your worth comes from who you are in Christ. Your value comes from living your life to bring Him honor and glory. Everything else is just a mirage.