Psalm 9:18 — For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
When I was a child, I played a board game called The Game of Life. At the end of the game, a player retired to either Millionaire Acres or The Poor Farm. A player’s fate depended on how much wealth he or she had accumulated during the game. Everyone who played hoped to be rich and finish at Millionaire Acres.
The Bible speaks of material and spiritual wealth and poverty. A wealthy person in the material sense can live in spiritual poverty, and a materially poor person can live a rich spiritual life. Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 illustrates this truth. The wealthy man who neglected his soul found himself in the spiritual poverty of hell while Lazarus the beggar enjoyed the riches of heaven because of his faith in God.
About 70 percent of the world’s population lives on less than $6.85 (9,641 KRW) per day. In some countries, that amount of money would be considered a low hourly wage and difficult to survive on. Material poverty and wealth is relative to where we live, but spiritual poverty is not relative. If a man or woman is in Christ, he or she is rich!
You may not have much in this world in the material sense, but as a believer in Christ, you are one of the wealthiest people on the planet. James wrote, “Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5). You are the heir to God’s kingdom, and you receive daily the riches of God’s mercy, love, and grace. One day you will walk the streets of gold in heaven with the former beggar Lazarus, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving to our wonderful Savior. Rejoice!
11/15/2024 Devotional
"You may not have much in this world in the material sense, but as a believer in Christ, you are one of the wealthiest people on the planet."
In this world, there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants,and the other is getting it. Solomon got whatever he wanted, especially when it came to symbols of power and status.Gradually, he depended less on God and more on the props around him: the world's largest harem, a house twice the size of the temple,an army well- stocked with chariots, a strong economy. Success may have eliminated any crisis of disappointment with God, but it also seemed to eliminate Solomon's desire for God at all. T…