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Best Riches Are Stored In Heaven |
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April 8, 2001 |
| Have you ever
dreamed of winning the lottery? Did you ever wonder what you would do
with all the money? I read a story about a man who did just that. He won
the lottery. As for his plans for spending the money, he spent the next
five years of his life dealing with long lost relatives, sour
investments, lawyers, lawsuits, divorce and a health crisis. At the end
of those five years, all of the money was gone and so was his health and
happiness. He told about being much healthier and happier with his
modest lifestyle in his former state.
W. H. Vanderbilt has been quoted as saying: "The care of 200 million dollars is too great a load for any brain or back to bear. It is enough to kill anyone. There is no pleasure in it." Henry Ford has been quoted as saying he was "much happier doing a mechanic's job." Hebrews 13:5 gives instructions for leading peaceful, successful lives: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (NIV) Money can never buy peace or happiness. Nor can it buy safety. According to Proverbs 18:11, wealth is not a strong defense: "The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall." (NIV) Making and craving more wealth is an endless cycle, bringing with it more responsibility, anxiety and stress. The brevity of life and the realization that one day riches will all be gone dictates a sobering perusal of life. I don't know of anyone who, on their death bed, wished they "had spent more time at the office." There is only one safe banker. Storing treasures in heaven's bank is the only safe bank account. A godly fruitful life consists of one who is content with what he or she has and is willing to share it with others. Loving people more than money is the secret of happy living. The desire to get rich leads to dissatisfaction, discontentment and futile efforts. The apostle Paul learned to be content in every circumstance because he relied on God's promises and God's power. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Paul states: "Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people. The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left the faith, because they wanted to get more money, but they have caused themselves much sorrow." (NCV) Knowing that God will "supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory," (Philippians 4:19) and that in Jesus are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3), we become "heaven heirs." So who wants to be a millionaire? I do...in Jesus! |