photo: canva.com
As I was thinking about what to write this week for the word provide, I came across the passage below. Before we skip over the word rich thinking it doesn’t apply to us, we need to realize that if we are Americans, we are rich by comparison to most people in the world.
We have drinkable, potable water that doesn’t make us or our children sick when we drink it. Very few of us have to walk miles to get our water. It comes in a spigot via pipes to our property and homes. We have electricity unless we forget to pay our bill. Very few homes don’t have access to these basic commodities. Yes, there are some that don’t have those commodities, but they are the exception, not the rule as in many parts of the world.
Despite our criticism of our health system, we are treated first and pay later…unlike many countries I have read about recently. Often, you must go to one place to purchase your medication, another to purchase your supplies and sometimes wait for hours or days until they arrive. They don’t assume insurance will pay. They want cash up front even in emergencies!
Don’t set your hope on the uncertainty of riches!
But one point of this short section of Scripture is that we are not to set our hope on the uncertainty of riches. Riches come and go. But GOD doesn’t. He remains the same. stop He is the One who provides not only what we need, but even things we can enjoy.
We are not to set our hope on the uncertainty of riches. Riches come and go. But GOD doesn't. He remains the same. Share on XUltimately, our response to the richness of his provision on so many levels is to be rich in good works…sharing generously of ourselves and our goods with others. It might be in hospitality, good deeds or even our money, that we can love people.
Ultimately, our response to the richness of his provision on so many levels is to be rich in good works...sharing generously of ourselves and our goods with others. Share on XI always thought I was generous, but I realize that in times of weakness, I give in to my weakness or relative poverty and am not as generous as I wish I were. I think about the things that need to be done and aren’t getting done and find it easy to do those things instead of reaching out, being intentional and doing those things that encourage and minister to those around me.
I will have to start ministering to others despite having lists of things left to do. I will need to be more intentional instead of waiting for things to fall into my lap. I’m looking and being more watchful while remembering those in my home and family that are my primary responsibility. I’m finding that when I look, I see places where I can minister the love of Christ even in times I have limited resources of strength.
Open my eyes Lord.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty,
nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God,
who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
They are to do good, to be rich in good works,
to be generous and ready to share,
thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.I Timothy 6:17-19
Your timely post reminds me of the meme: What if we wake up tomorrow, and all we have is what we thanked God for the night before?
Not to forget we have the Scriptures — complete.
And many of us have several translations, study Bibles, commentaries, teachers and preachers — and mentors.
Way more “aids” than my grandmother had.
The American church, like our nation is blessed to over-flowing with truth, talent and time. But our family in poorer nations sense our poverty.
Your reminders are great! Thank you!
thanks for your comments barb. great observation! i’m glad you stopped by:) martha
Did you have damage in the storms that swept through? We are bracing for heavy wet, power disconnecting snow.
our TV/weather reporting area did. there were 6 tornadoes. one system went north of huntsville and one went south of us. it was quite a system of storms. there were golfball to baseball sized hail in some places. some hit some of the car dealerships in their towns and ruined all their cars! i know of at least 2 different ones that were shown on TV. one station verified a 5 1/4″ hailstone! so between hail damage and category 1 (4) and category 2 (2) tornadoes in the area, it was quite a system:( in jacksonville, AL there is a college and it was hit quite badly. the roof came off the dorm like it was a piece of paper. fortunately, the school was on spring break so very few students were there. despite all the damage, no loss of life:)
It’s sad to me that we must be constantly reminded of how blessed we are. Thank you for the reminder!
God is so good to us.
yes, mandy, it is sad. it is sad that after all these years as a child of Christ, i still have to be reminded of how good He has been to me. but sadly, it is part of our broken human condition. it is just another part of heaven that we will enjoy…being thankful all the time and rejoicing in Christ. it must be wonderful. i don’t think we even realize how that would change our outlook on everything:)
That 1 Timothy verse is great! Great post!
i liked it too tara:)
Great post, Martha! I want to take our boys to a third world country for a couple weeks so they can get a good picture (and I can get the vivid reminder) of how rich we really are. Thanks for the reminder that we can give of our good works and resources.
Have a great weekend!
jeanne, after having lived in a couple of third world countries, i should advise not going to the absolute worst ones such as haiti for your first visit. sometimes it is so overwhelming people find it hard to function. not always of course. it also helps to go somewhere that you already have a relationship with either friends who are missionaries there or who work there in some way. it’s nice to visit a place where you have heard of the ministry and meet some of the people you have already prayed for as a family…even if it has only been for a year.
We have been provided with so much- it is important to remember our responsibility to be generous towards others.
glad you came by lesley:) so often, our relationships get so one-sided don’t they? we enjoy grace but forget that we need to give it out too…along with forgiving as we have been forgiven, being generous in ways GOD has been generous to us, etc. it is so easy to get so focused on ourselves instead of looking around us and sharing the great things that have been shared with us!
“I always thought I was generous, but I realize that in times of weakness, I give in to my weakness or relative poverty and am not as generous as I wish I were.” I’m also not generous enough with my graciousness to others in their needs – a privilege of someone who doesn’t need others to provide for me. Thanks for your reflection.
thanks for stopping by michelle. it has been great to meet you today:)
Great thoughts friend! I’ve also been learning this lesson again. Going back to the basics has helped me regroup and renew my mind on the heavenly kingdom instead of the earthly one.
great christy:) basics are good. i keep having to go back to them. i think i have learned them and turns out i haven’t really.