Blessed Life

​August 11, 2020
Today’s devotion is based on 1 Timothy 6:17-19, “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. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”.
If you don’t think that you are rich, you need to know that the latest statistic that even the poorest people in America have more wealth than 90 percent of the earth’s inhabitants.  You are indeed rich.
If you think wealth in this present world makes you truly rich, give it time, it will disappoint you. Why? Because it is what the Bible calls uncertain—it cannot be depended on. Just look at how a few months of disease and isolation have evaporated so much. A life built on the uncertain will ultimately fail you.
So life has to be built on something other than earthly riches. It has to be built on God, who provides you with everything. It is, after all, all God’s.  That certainty frees you to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share. In other words, you get to be a shining light of God’s goodness in this world. And you do it with the certainty that your eternal riches are entirely secure. That is being blessed.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for richly providing everything I need in this life.  Help me to remember that when I let the things of this earth become more important than my relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.