Being a cowboy meant knowing how to work, how to prepare to work, and how to do the actual work.”
–Bobby Cavazos (The Cowboy From the Wild Horse Desert)
“Let us not allow slackness to spoil our work and let us keep the fires of the spirit burning, as we do our work for God.”
–Romans 12:11(Phillips)
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(First, I need to fix a mistake I made in Monday’s “Echo.” Call it old age, a senior moment, blatant disregard, or just an oversight, there was an issue that changed the meaning of what was being written. I wrote, “Let me remind you here that we are speaking of perfectionism.” It should have said, “Let me remind you here that we are NOT speaking of perfectionism.” However, there is a lesson here. What I wrote was not perfect, I left out a word. That did not mean that my thoughts were wrong, or that my motive was wrong, or that my heart was impure. See, even in my mistake we see how we can be pure in heart and yet at times fail in our daily lives.)
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In every culture there is a need for wealth of some kind. Money, they say, makes the world go round, it is not love. Wealth, then oftentimes, becomes an obsession with so many. The meaning of wealth is the total value of all assets, minus the debts. Today’s proverb is a wonderful way to look at proper wealth. We read from Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (NKJV) I need to ask now, what makes one rich, what is richness? Sometimes we equate wealth and money with being rich. Look at the Living Bible paraphrase of this verse and we see a closer meaning. “The Lord’s blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it.” Much of this verse depends on what we mean by wealth.
Proverbs 10:4, says that the “hands of the diligent bring wealth,” but here we read that it comes from the Lord. Which is correct? I would have to say, both. We, in our daily life, work together with the Lord. Bob Beasley sheds light on this, “It is the combination of our diligence and God’s blessing. The slothful person seeks wealth without diligence. The practical atheist seeks wealth through his own diligence. But God distributes wealth as He sees fit.”
No matter how hard a man works, and that is needed, industry is needed by man; he cannot expect wealth without honest work. However, we also need to realize that God is the true source of wealth. We work diligently as we are supposed to, but ultimately the results are God’s. If we practice proper stewardship, are diligent in our work habits and ethics, we will find that wealth can be a blessing, not a curse. But then true wealth–is it really money? Dan Dick reminds us that, “A good relationship with God is the path to true wealth, and it is a richness that nothing can destroy.”
Wealth–money or life fulfillment? Fortune or satisfaction? Success in life? Ah, but then what is success–more money? I have often used the quotation by the “Wizard” of basketball, John Wooden, “Success is peace of mind which is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” It goes back to your purpose in life and whether you are serving the Lord to the best of your ability. J. Vernon McGee states, “There are those who live in pleasure and think they are living it up. But as they get closer to the end, they find life unbearable.” Riches now often means perdition later. McGee continues, “The contemporary Christian by his indifference to moral and doctrinal wrong, and by his laxness in his way of living, is missing a great deal that God has for him.” Have you noticed that it goes back to true worship and proper stewardship?
John Trapp, the 17th-century theologian speaks of the three “vultures” in regard to wealth. There is the care of getting, the fear in keeping, and the grief in losing. Those who depend upon monetary wealth may spend it all if they come down with a life-threatening sickness. His wealth gone, along with his health, and all that is left is the grave and in that he loses it all. Let me say in closing, that wealth is not money to the Christian. We are rich in whatever way the Lord blesses us, and that is so in many ways. John Piper warns us that “Life is wasted when we do not live for the glory of God.” I figure I’ve done a good job not becoming a millionaire, but I have riches abundant in the Lord. A large bank account, what will happen? One of the vultures will come for it, and at the end of life what do I have. Do I stick a dollar bill in my pocket as a tip for the mortician?
Remember the story of Gehazi, the servant of Elijah. In his desire for wealth, his greed and dishonesty, the leprosy of Naaman came upon him. Now, what good was his wealth, when his health was gone? (2 Kings 5:27). Read again today’s proverb from the CEV, “When the Lord blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret.” No regrets. Let Him give you what is needed for you to work in His kingdom. Enjoy His blessings, don’t whine and murmur that you don’t have enough.