May the mumbling commence!
Many times I worry about where my life is going. I worry about my welfare. And I couch this worry in the human ideals of wealth and influence and power. It is patently wrong to worry in such a way for a Christian. Christians’ welfare comes solely from the Lord – nowhere else.
Depend upon the Lord and God’s Word for your welfare. The message is clear enough as Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples in Matthew chapter thirteen. Read it below:
"Now listen to the parable of the sower. When a man hears the message of the kingdom and does not grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is like the seed sown by the road-side. The seed sown on the stony patches represents the man who hears the message and eagerly accepts it. But it has not taken root in him and does not last long - the moment trouble or persecution arises through the message he gives up his faith at once. The seed sown among the thorns represents the man who hears the message, and then the worries of this life and the illusions of wealth choke it to death and so it produces no 'crop' in his life. But the seed sown on good soil is the man who both hears and understands the message. His life shows a good crop, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Verses 18-23)
Did you hear that? The allure of worldly wealth is an illusion. I preach to myself and to you: “Don’t allow the deception of wealth to fool you.” All the comfort and faith and hope that we put into worldly wealth is for not. It is like pouring sand down a rat hole. Worldly wealth is an illusion based upon true wealth in the Lord.
What is true wealth in the Lord? True wealth is found only in listening to God’s Word and obeying. True wealth in the Lord is made evident in the production of fruit that will last – the fruit of the kingdom. This kind of wisdom will produce a crop that will be many times what we will expect it to be.
Listening to God’s Word and obeying is an essential part of a robust prayer life.
Why worry when you can pray? Why worry when you can sit at the feet of Jesus? Why worry when you can busy yourself at doing what God has called you to do?
Prayer is key to winning this interior battle. Trying to seek God’s will is key to winning this battle. Living in Christian community is key to winning this interior battle.
Yes, the allure of illusion in worldly wealth pales in comparison to the true wealth found only in the Lord. Once you have tasted butter the substitute of margarine will never seem the same again.
Show us true wealth, O Lord. Answer our prayer.
May we listen and obey what we hear.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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