... for Richer ...
Building momentum together, toning our spiritual core to the theme of consecrating our lives to God, for richer and for poorer.
Almost 30 years ago I made my vows to God, consecrating my life to follow Jesus come what may. Almost 50 years ago, I made my vows to my husband, agreeing to be united to him come what may. In these defining moments, I had no idea how my promises were going to challenge me and change me. This is the fourth post in a series examining traditional wedding vows and applying them to our heavenly marriage.
In case you missed the previous posts, here are the links:
Is there ever Enough?
The word plousios in the original Bible is translated rich in English. It means wealthy and abounding in material resources. Probably most of us would opt for richer rather than for poorer, right? And isn’t it easy to honor and be devoted to God in richer times, when your material needs are met? Maybe … or maybe not.
God is so counter-cultural that his words flip most of our natural assumptions and earthly values. Scripture confirms that the wealthy have a very difficult time in finding their way to the kingdom of God.
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Mark 10:25 NASB
Why is this? We are living examples of this principle.
We were married for about 18 years before we made the decision to follow Jesus. For about half that time, we both worked outside the home at good paying jobs. Life was easy for us, but God wasn’t in the picture. Travel and a new home and the toys that went with it occupied us. Honestly we didn’t feel we needed God, our income adequately provided what we needed. We also lived for the day and didn’t give much thought to how our old selves might feel cheated by our young selves for spending so freely. Leaving a good example of stewardship for our kids to follow wasn’t on our minds either.
We lived as if there wasn’t ever going to be enough, and we were in good company.
Here’s the thing: 78% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Basically, that means almost 8 out of 10 people probably can’t afford the home they’re living in and the car they’re driving. They might not even have the cash to cover the next emergency that pops up. Kind of crazy, right?
Dave Ramsey
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What we Treasure now becomes our Legacy later
When we both made the decision to follow Jesus, that’s when things started to change. Old habits die hard and we didn’t do it perfectly, but gradually we started to tithe to our church and became more intentional about saving for the future.
Now that I am my old self, I know with certainty that my young self didn’t need all those things she had. She would have survived just fine with less.
The way we lived in our early marriage impacted the legacy we passed onto our kids. When our son, Jason, was considering college and a career, he told us he never wanted to work as hard as Bruce did. The pressures of a high powered career kept Bruce from being the kind of father that he now wishes he had been. Thankfully, God is all about second chances, and his relationship with both kids is great. And Jason has been more of a hands-on dad with his boys.
Find Glory in Humble Pie
When we live in richer times, we have far less troubles than in poorer times. In the world’s way of thinking, that’s a reason to strive to be rich. Who wants troubles? It’s humiliating to ask for help, for handouts, for things like food stamps. But, as our counter-cultural God shows us, those who are poorer are to find glory in their high position.
But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
James 1:9-10 NASB
Glory means to boast or rejoice in something. So, do you brag about being humiliated? I sure don’t find bragging to be my go-to response! But I remember one incident years ago when I ate humble pie.
It was 911; September 11, 2001. I had been in Bible study that morning and my phone was left in my car. As I was driving home, the bad news was on the radio and I found many messages on my phone from my mom. She was frantically trying to reach all her kids and warn them of the disaster. I stopped the car and called her. She told me to get some cash from the bank. She had lived through the depression and WWII and knew about financial instability.
I took her advice and went to the bank on my way home. When I approached the cashier, she informed me that the bank was asking customers to restrict their withdrawals to a certain amount. I don’t remember what that amount was, but I was asking for way more. Without skipping a beat, I told that cashier that I needed the cash because my son was going on a mission trip!
I knew by the look on her face she didn’t believe me. But she handed over the cash and I turned toward the door. With each step I took, my feet felt heavier and heavier. It was all I could do to make my way through the revolving door. My heart was beating fast and I came to a stop just outside the bank. I literally couldn’t move. God was speaking to me!
Do you really need this cash? And what’s with that lie you told about a mission trip?
My Jesus saw this shameful moment as one he could transform into glory for him. If I could have seen the spiritual world, there were probably several angels there holding me back from leaving. I realized there was no other choice. It was either do the humiliating thing and return the money or be turned into a pillar of salt right there in front of the bank!
I did go back inside that day and returned the money. I told the cashier that I really didn’t need it. She graciously said nothing.
In the end, there was no run on the banks, and we didn’t need that cash. But the lesson I learned about the power of God in my moment of humiliation was priceless. He did transform the shameful into glory.
I haven’t told many people about this, maybe because it’s humiliating? But now I’ve told all of you.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me.’”
Erma Bombeck
Questions to Consider when Times are “Richer”
What purchases have you made that you now realize were unneeded? Are you honoring your old self by saving for her days?
What does your style of living reveal about what you treasure? If you have children, what do they say and do that reveals what they treasure?
What moments of humiliation have you experienced? In what way did they bring you closer to Jesus?
Scripture to Memorize
This month, write these words on your heart by repeating them at least once a day. Use whatever translation you're comfortable with. This one is from the MSG translation. Reading scripture in various translations is helpful to me. God’s holy word deserves to be savored and slowly digested.
You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are - no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
Matthew 5:5 MSG
Worship Music
Chosen just for you to enjoy and reflect on what your true treasure is.
Next Week
Next week we will be resting in this theme of consecration to God “for Richer, for Poorer.”
We hope you enjoyed this devotional from my heart to yours. Join the community if you haven’t already, and feel free to share it with a friend.