Daily Devotional

I read a short story once called "The Monkey’s Paw" by W. W. Jacobs. Three wishes are granted to the owner of a particular monkey’s paw.  But while the wishes are granted as requested, terrible and tragic side events in his life take place each time.  The owner got what he most wanted, then he got sorrow in greater measure than the blessing of the wish!

The Lord is different. The blessing of the Lord makes rich! There is so much “bad press” given to anyone teaching this, teaching that God prospers us. It is supposed that some are saying that a person can use God and His promises just to get rich, get all they want and become worldly wealthy. There are always people who misunderstand God’s promises, or want to somehow use Him to have their own way and will. But truly, God cannot be manipulated like that, no matter how hard one tries to pray that way or have faith to those ends.

The result of shying away from becoming one of “these” can be that we will not ask God to supply our needs! But the Scriptures are clear that He is the very One to whom we are to go to have our needs met! And when He meets those needs, He does not send destruction, trouble and loss along with the provision!

But what about this “makes rich” thing?  I thought we were not supposed to try and be rich as Christians? The truth is, we are to be rich as Christians!  Not in the way the world is, but being rich toward God (Luke 12:21). It’s all in which things make us rich.

When Lynn and I began dating, it was not too long before we started talking about marriage as a possibility. We discussed many topics and life approaches. One of my “terms” about being a husband was regarding money. I told her that if she married me, she should not plan on being rich. I did not have such a goal. I was planning to be a high school teacher and coach. I did not plan to work beyond that on the side to become wealthy.

Teachers did not make a lot of money. The additional coaching stipend was a few hundred dollars a year, for hundreds of hours of labor outside the classroom.  When I started at Reedley High School in 1973, I think I made about $700/month. No high school teacher got rich!

Teachers and coaches there told me, in fact, that if my wife did not work, and I did not work during the summer, we would never even make ends meet! But I had other “riches” to pursue.
I wanted to play golf in the summer. I was “rich” in time, which many were jealous of. In fact, when I later took the job as a pastor, my older brother jokingly said (sort of), “You used to work nine months a year. Now you only work one day a week!”

But time to do things was riches for me. Besides golf, I wanted to go fishing, take vacations, do things with my wife and kids, work in the yard, and a lot more. I was not ready to sacrifice those “riches” for more money. So we lived within our budget. We bought a modest house. We bought reliable used cars. We lived frugally, but happily.  We were never hungry, and we always paid all the bills on time.

When we became believers later, we discovered that the Lord, indeed, was a provider of riches! We are to seek all our supply from Him! And the blessing of the Lord does make rich! He sends no curses with it, like with the owner of the monkey’s paw.

He does supply money and goods. But greater yet He supplies us richly with all things to enjoy (I Timothy 6:17). Well beyond income and bank accounts, He supplies us with the underlying things all the world is actually chasing after: peace, security, love, freedom, purpose, faith, fruitfulness, usefulness, life and so much more.

God makes rich through His blessings, and He adds no sorrow to it! It is the call of the Christian to be rich in so many ways—in love, service, kindness, goodness. Paul says that against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23).

Seek His blessing, and be made rich! Then be generous, and lavishly throw your riches around. First to your family, friends and neighbors, then to all the world. And have a great time doing it!

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