Tuesday,
January 31, 2023
The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to
kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. But their swords will stab their own
hearts, and their bows will be broken. It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich. For
the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care
of the godly. Psalm 37:14-17
The old adage about greener
grass on the other side of the fence could not be more reliable. For years I’ve driven past a goat farm near
our home. I cannot begin to estimate how
often I’ve seen both old and young of the flock with necks straining through the
fence to get that luscious green grass on the other side.
It works that way for human
goats too! Those who are poor dream
about the green grasses in the land of the rich. (It’s the reason lottery tickets sell). Flip that coin and you find the rich wondering
what it would be like to live more simply, without the stress of having to
protect their wealth from potential thieves.
Both sides of that fence imagine a carefree life of ease on the fence’s other
side. But more often you find the rich
unable to resist the temptation to get richer…on the sore backs of those in
poverty. And so it has gone since the
Garden of Eden.
Jesus warned about the trap of
letting money, or the desire for that greener grass lifestyle, take the place
of godliness…which is a life-building others up, instead of storing-up for
sefishness sake[1]. Paul picked up on that theme, and
instructed his young protégé, Timothy, to teach contentment[2]
It does not surprise me that God
came to us in a lowly manger and was content, whether in the company of the
rich movers and shakers, or those who were impoverished, destitute of the world’s
goods, and no prospect for getting more.
He knew the riches of glory in Heaven with Yahweh; He knew, and had the
power of the universe by his word in creation…but he laid it all aside, to be
poor for us.
Jesus gave John a warning message
for those who thought they had it made, as well as for those who think having
what the rich had, would put them in that elite group of carefree livers of the
good life:
You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched
and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise
you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will
not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able
to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your
indifference. Revelation 3:17-19
Whether you are rich as the upper class comes, or
living nervously on Food Stamps and thrift store cast-offs, that grass on the
other side of the fence only looks greener. What God gave you…a soul with His image
stamped on it…is your true wealth and worth.
And it is without price…unless you sell it to this world’s highest
bidder.
There are about 2,000 devotional
posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions
library. To dig deeper on
today’s topic, explore some of these:
Good and Evil - the War and The Sword of Justice
This is an updated version of
“So Much Anger” published on Rocky Road Devotions January 16, 2014
Images: Title Pixabay.com Images without citation are either personal
property of the author, or in public domain.
Unless noted, Scripture quoted
from The New Living Translation©
