I think Granny was right. While some multimillionaires are Godly, generous and kind, they are the exception rather than the rule.
From the days of the Old Testament prophets until now, many of the rich have exploited the poor. James warned his generation that the wealth of those who oppress the poor "will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire." (Jas. 5:3)
Even today, the rich contribute relatively little to charitable causes. Popular author Vance Packard says that the USA has at least 800 people worth more than $100 million. How much do they give to church and charity? Less than 2%!
I have sometimes wished I had wealth, thinking of all the good I could do with it. But would I? Paul warned that coveting riches is a snare. (1 Tim. 6:9) Realizing this, we should honor the wealthy who are generous. We should also thank God for the blessings He gives us and then give as lavishly as we can out of that abundance.
-HVL
Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ, is merely a satanic counterfeit of the truth.
Many trust in their own good works, not realizing that even their best efforts are offensive to God. (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:8) And the more we try to justify ourselves, the more we offend God, because "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight." (Rom. 3:20)
Some trust in their family heritage or nationality. The Jewish people thought they were pleasing to God simply because they were descendants of Abraham. But John the Baptist warned them, saying, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham." (Matt. 3:7-9)
Apart from faith, man cannot please God. And the first step of faith is simply believing God exists. That isn't enough to save a person, even the demons have that level of faith (James 2:19), but it's a start and by God's grace, can blossom into full saving faith.
God has given ample evidence of His existence. Romans 1:20 says, "Since the creation of the world [God's] invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made." David said, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (Ps. 19:1)
Creation itself proclaims the existence, power and glory of God, yet most people "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1:18), by rejecting the Creator and denying their accountability to Him. Rather than bowing to the true God, they pay homage to "Mother Nature" or evolution. How foolish!
-From "Drawing Near Daily Devotions "
Still upward be your onward course:
For this I pray today;
Still upward as the years go by,
And seasons pass away.
Still upward in this coming year,
Your path is all untried;
Still upward may you journey on,
Close by your Savior's side.
Still upward although sorrow come,
And trials crush your heart;
Still upward may they draw your soul,
With Christ to walk apart.
Still upward 'til the day shall break,
And shadows all have flown;
Still upward till in Heaven you wake,
And stand before the throne.
We should never be content to rest in the mists of the valley when the summit of Mount Tabor awaits us. How pure is the dew of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the food and drink of those who dwell above, whose windows look into the New Jerusalem!
Many saints are content to live like people in coal mines, who never see the sun. Tears sadden their faces when they could be anointed with heavenly oil. I am convinced that many believers suffer in a dungeon when they could walk on a palace roof, viewing the lush landscape and Lebanon.
Wake up, believers, from your lowly condition! Throw away your laziness, sluggishness, coldness or whatever is interfering with your pure love for Christ. Make Him the source, the Center and the One who encompasses every delight of soul. Refuse to be satisfied any longer with your meager accomplishments. Aspire to a higher, a nobler and a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God!
-Charles H. Spurgeon
I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a leam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray, till heaven I've found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground!
Not many of us are living at our best. We linger in the lowlands because we are afraid to climb the mountains. The steepness and ruggedness discourage us, so we stay in the mist of the valleys and never learn the mystery of the hills. We do not know what is lost by our self-indulgence, what glory awaits if we only have the courage to climb or what blessings we will find will only ascend the mountains of God!
-J. R. M.
Too low they build who build beneath the stars.
-From "Streams In The Desert"
-by Lettie.B. Cowman
"Wait? You say, wait! " my indignant reply,
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate,
Hangs in the balance and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a yes, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a no to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe,
We need but to ask and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking and this is my cry,
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting.... for what?"
He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give,
And pleased you would be.
You would have what you want,
But, you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint,
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair,
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me,
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience that fullness of love,
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove.
You'd know that I give and I save (for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond,
Getting just what you asked.
Of an infinite God,
Who makes what you have LAST.
You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for Thee."
Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!
So, be silent, My Child, and in time you will see,
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, "WAIT."
-Author Unknown
The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.
Moments later, her little son pinched his fingers in a door and ran screaming to his mother. She didn't say, "How selfish of you to bother me with your throbbing fingers when I'm busy!" No, she showed him great compassion and tenderness.
As Psalm 103:13 reminds us, this is the response of love, both human and divine. In Isaiah 49, God said that even though a mother may forget to have compassion on her child, the Lord never forgets! (v.15) In picturesque language, God assured His people that He had inscribed them on the palms of His hands (v.16).
Such intimacy with God belongs to those who fear Him and rely on Him rather than on themselves. As that child with throbbing fingers ran freely to his mother, so may we run to God with our daily problems.
The almighty God never has to neglect others to respond to your concerns. He has limitless time and love for each of His children. No need is too trivial for Him. -JEY
No heart too small, no world too wide,
To feel the Master's touch;
Dear Lord of all, we give Thee thanks,
For Thou hast sent so much.
-Michael
God bears the world's weight on His shoulder, yet holds His children in the palm of His hand.
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