Marriage
New FRC Report Finds 162 Reasons to Marry
To celebrate National Marriage Week, Family Research Council's Marriage and ...
Opinion
Gay by Choice?
Are all homosexuals "born that way"? Not if you believe the testimony of a ...
Theology
10 Reasons to Believe in a Historical Adam
In recent years, several self-proclaimed evangelicals, or those associated with ...
Church & Ministries
Former Megachurch Pastor Goes Church Hopping as a Newcomer
When finally given the opportunity to simply attend, and not preside or preach ...
Read: Hosea 12
Ah, I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself . . . (v. 8)
Ephraim's confidence sounds stunningly similar to that of the church in Laodicea that St. John addressed. Like Ephraim, they said, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelation 3:17). Here are two times that God's people have smugly defined their wealth according to the possessions they have accumulated.
But God does not equate the amount of our resources with our position in the kingdom. The Spirit replies to the church in Laodicea, "You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). God responds to Ephraim, "I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again" (v. 9). Can you guess what he would say to us today?
As wonderful as physical resources may be, and as challenging as life can become without them, possessions do not dictate our value before the living God. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). He said, "The last will be first, and the first shall be last" (Matthew 20:16). Rich and poor in the kingdom of God are entirely reoriented from the world's definitions.
Prayer: Lord, give us hearts and minds to celebrate what is really valuable. Amen.
Like us on Facebook
Used with Permission
