Your Wealth

Good Morning,

2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Most of us are, really, rich in some way or other. God has blessed each of us in one way or another with riches. The unfortunate thing is that too often we don't see how truly blessed and wealthy we are in ways that don't seem like wealth to us. Now, the reason we don't see this wealth is normally because we're the ones living in it and have had it for so long that we simply don't recognize it. Then, by not realizing and recognizing in what way or ways we've been made wealthy, we aren't generous with that wealth and don't share as we really should with those in need of what we have.

People will say that they don't have financial wealth so they really can't be as generous as they would like. Now, belive me, I can truly understand that! But, do we really take that long, hard look at ourselves to see exactly where we HAVE been given much? Most of us don't. And, most of us DO have some way in which we can become generous with the wealth we have been given.

Let's for a moment just assume that you and I don't have an abundance of financial wealth. OK. We're good with that right? I mean, we can't afford to support certain things we might like to, that is to be generous in ways we'd love to be generous with money. But, do we have time? Do we have some talent or other? Do we have an ability to do this or that? The answer to those questions is normally "Yes" but we don't see that as wealth with which we can be generous and share.

Let's take time, just for an example. Most of us, no matter how busy we are, can make a bit of time to be generous with and give it to someone, or even many people, who would love to have a bit of our time. It could be as simple as spending time reading to someone who has a difficult time because of illness or eyesight problems. Maybe an elderly person in your congregation who lives alone and doesn't have all the "callers" that he or she would like to have. The children's ministry might need someone to help out...and all it costs is time. Oh, there are many examples of the giving of that marvelous resource...time.

Maybe you or I have been blessed by God with some talent or gift. So, what do we do with it? Are we generous with this valuable wealth that we've been given? Or, do we sit on it at home and just enjoy it for ourselves? Do you see what I mean? Most of us have some kind of talent that we can be generous with. I can't tell you how many people I've met in my life who are good with the arts and crafts things that, well, I'm not too good at, but they sit at home and do what they do and aren't generous with that wealth they've been blessed with. Again, you see the point here.

We all have "wealth" that we can be "generous" with. At least in some way. It may not be money. It might not be some great talent. But it IS something. It's our place to find that something, to recognize it, and then to share it.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David