Wealth Envy

By Cheri Cowell –

 

“Daddy, are we rich?” the young daughter of a wealthy businessman asked.

“Well, we’re rich in health, a great family, and good friends.”

The girl shook her head. “No Daddy. I mean, do I have a lot of money?”

Without hesitation the wise father answered, “Until you are eighteen you do, but then you will be poor like I was and you’ll work your way up.”

Some of us are falling prey to wealth envy that teaches if someone has more than their fair share there is less for me. The Bible teaches another way of looking at wealth. Not only does God provide the wealth, he gives us the ability to use it wisely and to enjoy its blessings. Whether you have a storehouse of money or your riches are counted in other ways, God is the source of that wealth. So, thank him for the wealth you have, and then go a step further and praise God for what others have.

“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NKJV).

Prayer: God, help me to avoid wealth envy, and instead enjoy the wealth I have because all good things come from You.

The Blessing Bunch

By Cheri Cowell –

 

Henry Ward Beecher is quoted as saying, “A proud man is seldom a grateful man because he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” Those of us with a personality prone to the weakness of pride can also agree with the Apostle Paul. He said that although he knew what he wanted to do, he couldn’t seem to do it—at least not all of the time.

Pride tends to slip up when we feel unappreciated, unnoticed, overwhelmed, and taken advantage of—all signs of a self-focused person. God has given us a remedy for this sin. He tells us we should get our eyes off of ourselves and onto our blessings, especially those we receive through others. When we realize it is not “all about us,” it is easier to think of how we might be a blessing to others. When we put others first, we become a member of God’s Blessing Bunch, and soon discover that the blessings go both ways.

“When you think about them, let it be with great love in your heart because of all the work they have done. Let peace live and reign among you” (1 Thessalonians 5:13 VOICE).

Prayer: I want to be a part of Your blessing bunch, whose members take their eyes from themselves and who place others first.

Covenant Keepers

By Cheri Cowell –

 

A disturbing trend has crept into our society. There is an alarming lack of the ability to make and stick to a commitment. We like to keep all options open. We see this in children who sign up for lessons or teams and then drop out or don’t show if they change their mind or have a better offer. We see it in adults who won’t RSVP to an invitation because something might come up.

Our God is a Covenant Keeper who makes and honors His commitments. Even when we did not hold up our end of the bargain, God kept His covenant of peace with his people. He expects no less from those who claim His name. This means that we, too, should honor our commitment to peace, even when others break part of the agreement. This is the hard work of peacekeeping—it is the hard work of following after Christ.

“So tell him that I am making a Covenant-of-Peace with him. He and his descendants are joined in a covenant of eternal priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the People of Israel” (Numbers 25:12-13 MSG).

Prayer: When others break our agreement I admit I want to also throw in the towel, but more than that I want to be a Covenant Keeper like you.

My Redeemer Lives

By Cheri Cowell –     

Whether you celebrate Easter with contemporary praise and worship music or traditional hymns, you will no doubt join in singing the joyous proclamation “My Redeemer lives!”
But do you know this phrase is actually taken from the mouth of Job? That’s right. And they weren’t said after his family, wealth, and health were restored. The words were said after Job complained bitterly about his misfortunes, about his abandonment by his friends, and he asked God where He’d been when Job had been assailed on every side. After this angry and sad plea, Job added these words.

The Hebrew word translated “Redeemer” can also be rendered “Avenger,” “Guarantor,” or “Vindicator.” What a wonderfully rich Easter proclamation. It is not a call for celebration removed from the sufferings of this word. Rather, it is rooted in the midst of suffering, in a faith that our sufferings are indeed redeemed, vindicated, and avenged by a God who suffered greatly and willingly for our redemption. When you hear these words this Easter, remember Job and how he offered them in spite of His sufferings and because of his sufferings…and so can we. Because our Redeemer lives.

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26 NKJV).

Prayer: Give me the ability to do as Job—to sing God’s praises in the midst of suffering and loss. Thank You for not being a jelly-bean, sunny-life, Redeemer God, but a God who redeems, avenges, and vindicates those who are suffering through the shedding of Your own blood and through Your own suffering.

Too Good To Be True

By Cheri Cowell –  

If it sounds too good to be true, we are told, it probably is. This is a great truth to live by as it protects us from falling prey to untrue advertising, unscrupulous contractors, and false promises.

On the other hand, if we make this a cornerstone of our interplay with the world we risk becoming skeptics who never believe anything. We risk losing our ability to suspend disbelief in order to hold only to the explainable. This is the opposite of faith. Faith requires that we set aside this “rule” of protection and make room for that which is simply too good to be true—forgiveness of sins and the resurrection.

David had no proof; only belief in what seemed too good to be true. Yet, David chose to cling to the promise of forgiveness (remember, he murdered a man, committed adultery, and then lied to cover it all up) and the hope of resurrection for his son whom God had taken because of this. Sadly, the prophets foretold of many others who would choose not to suspend their belief in what they understood—they would never believe. Thus they would never see. Only those with the eyes of faith can hope to see.

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39 NIV).

Prayer: Thank You Lord being too good while also being true. Help me suspend my need for protection and joyfully abandon myself to that which seems too good to be true—forgiveness of all sins and a resurrection life.

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