Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Youth: a time to be with the creator
“When
he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.”
Since 2012, we have seen the 5 largest
jackpots in the history of the US lottery. The winnings ranged between 400 and
600 million dollars! Most of us cannot even fathom that amount, let alone think
of what we would do with all that money. Yet none of us would ever turn down
such a winning. Some of us are thinking right now, "I would love just a
small percentage of that!" We view money as a solution to many of our
problems and even the source of happiness.
There has been a debate regarding wealth
and the Christian perspective of being wealthy for years. For some, the
“almighty dollar” has taken full control of their lives and we forget it is the
Almighty who gave us the dollar. Some may neglect our families and take away
precious time from them in order to make extra money. Some people may
participate in unethical and illegal practices in order to accumulate more
wealth. Others may become superficial and arrogant because of their riches.
Wealth turns from a blessing to a misfortune when it changes us for the worse.
In today’s reading, we see the rich young man who realized that his love for
money was so great; he could not let it go, even for the guarantee of eternal
life. We don’t know if he worked hard and earned his wealth or if it was an
inheritance, but we know that his wealth had become his master. But it has
become his stumbling block.
The blessing of wealth was not intended to
change us into corrupted people. 1 Timothy 6:18 says, “Command them to do
good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share”. Being
rich should not be considered a sin or to be looked down upon. However,
responsibility comes along with the blessing of money. We have seen examples of
people like Zacchaeus and others in the Bible who willingly gave financially.
In Mark 12 we read about the Poor Widow who did not simply give her surplus,
but instead gave all she had into the temple treasury. Understandably, it is
the ultimate goal for many from a young age to be professionally successful and
eventually build up wealth to provide a sense of security for their families.
This is a blessing from God and when we lose sight of that, we cheapen the
blessing. I'm a firm believer that for blessings to be fully complete, we
must use it to bless God and His kingdom. It is our responsibility as believers
to use the blessings given to us in order to fulfill God’s will. We as
believers are accountable in providing for God’s ministries and missions. God
expects us to be sincere, generous and ultimately sacrificial with our wealth.
Prayer: Lord thank you for all your blessings in our
life, help us to share it for the extension of your kingdom. Amen.
Thought for the day: The blessing of wealth is not
intended to change us into corrupted people.
Dr.
Ron Jacob, Long Island M T C, NY.
Theme
of the week - Youth: a time to be with the Creator