Someday, wealth will fade and be no more. Some people work to gather wealth their entire lives and place their hope in it. It is easy to fall into the enemy trap that pursuing wealth is what life is all about, but that is not true. True riches in life are not found in gold, silver, or fame but in our relationship with Jesus as our Savior.
James gives us insight into the fleeting wealth and the brevity of life. James 1:9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises, and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. [1]
Pressing on Toward God
The Apostle Paul had been through many trials in life and realized his relationship with Jesus was the most important thing in life. Some may press on to enjoy the riches of life, but Paul pressed forward to Jesus, the real prize in life.
Philippians 3:12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. [2]
What in life are you pursuing? When we reflect on our lives, we give space for the Lord to speak to us and correct our journey. As you listen to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, is He redirecting you to pursue Jesus more profoundly? The Lord loves to guide us to experience a richer spiritual life that will bless us and others.
The Riches of Christ
When Jesus becomes our personal Savior, Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:3 that we are enriched with every spiritual blessing in Christ because we are united with Him. Paul calls these blessings endless treasures of Christ in Ephesians 3:8. Paul is telling us that the blessings of Jesus are too deep to be measured. Perhaps you have never placed your faith in Jesus, but today, the Lord is calling you so you experience true riches in this lifetime and the next.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I’ve kept You out of my life for too long. I know I am a sinner and cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear You knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive Your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust You as my Lord and Savior.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe You are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank You for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe Your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.[3]
To learn how wealth will fade, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-faith-in-action
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/the-sinners-prayer-4-examples.html