Are You Rich Towards God?

[Edwin]

Many people struggle in this life to make ends meet, to have what they need to be comfortable. Life is not easy for many of us. Then there are people who have so much that they have so worries and can even be wasteful. I have heard that death is a societal leveler. When you die, it does not matter whether you had a lot or you had a little! There is a Christian song, "Little is Much When God is in it." We don't need a lot in this life to be happy. Jesus told about the beggar who had hard times, had to beg for his food, and the dogs licked his sores that he had. He ate from the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. No doubt he shared with the dogs. When both of them died, the poor man went to Abraham's bosom where he had the good things, and the rich man found himself in hell where he wanted the poor man to come bring him one drop of water to cool his tongue in that place of torment. "What shall it profit a man, or a woman, if that person will gain the whole world and lose his/her own soul, or what can a man or woman give in exchange for his/her soul?" Jesus said that some think they are rich, but they are poor, blind, and naked. He suggested that they guy gold from him tried in the fire. When we die it will not matter who we were, what education we had, or what we have had. The only thing that will matter on that day is if we have done the will of God. So, are you rich towards God? You can be. God places a premium on how we live, what we do for Him and for others, so this is the time to be concerned about eternal retirement!

There is a beautiful and wonderful old church song, "The Last Mile of the Way," that expresses many of these thoughts.

[crisipicada]

I went to church yesterday. I have a good time and been enjoying and been a blessing to the message. It is about STEWARDSHIP. It reminds me that we brought nothing in this world and certainly we carry nothing out. There are times that our attitude is not good towards the material possession in life. When we have things, there are times that attitude and character change. But we must remember that It is all STEWARDSHIP. If we are not good steward, then the things that we possess will be loss. And also that God entrusted us things so that we can expand to His work. We may not share the gospel to others around the world, but we can be part of it by helping and having commitment regarding the missionaries around the world.

[Edwin]

Crisi, I am glad that you did get to church, and that it was such a blessing to you! We also managed to get to church this morning, and it was wonderful. I felt like crying it felt so good to be in church and in the presense of the Lord! In our church the pastor's wife is the Assistant Pastor, and this morning she talked about Jesus washing the disciples' feet. She talked about how it was a job no one wanted to do, because it was so unpleasant, and they usually used people without any status at all to wash feet. It had to be a woman, a child, or some lowly, poorly thought of person, and yet Jesus assumed that role. He taught us that we are to be servants, serve, so things that are unpleasant because we are doing it as unto the Lord, and we are looking for His recognition and His blessing, and for recognition from any other person. It doesn't matter as much what people think of us as what God thinks of us! We also observed communion at the end of the service, and it was a very good service!

[mystic]

I would be happy if I could be just the last and poorest to enter God's Temple.

[Edwin]

This is like one of those choices that people make. Would you rather have educational degrees and lots of money, or would you rather have your good health? It would be nice to have both, but often people don't have a choice. I think good health is very nice. It is nice to have the education and the money as well. Would you rather be rich and have everything you want in this life, or be rich towards God, and have rewards in heaven. These things here are so temporary, and the wisest choice would be to be rich towards God and have rewards in heaven.