DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY – "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"

Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money. - Anonymous.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." - Mar 10:23-27.

Christ took this occasion to speak to his disciples about the difficulty of the salvation of those who have abundance of this world. Those who thus eagerly seek the wealth of the world, will never rightly prize Christ and his grace. Also, as to the greatness of the salvation of those who have but little of this world, and leave it for Christ.

The greatest trial of a good man's constancy is, when love to Jesus calls him to give up love to friends and relatives. Even when gainers by Christ, let them still expect to suffer for him, till they reach heaven. Let us learn contentment in a low state, and to watch against the love of riches in a high one. Let us pray to be enabled to part with all, if required, in Christ's service, and to use all we are allowed to keep in his service.- Matthew Henry.

I am amazed at the number of Christians who want to get rich and most of them quickly! There are so many preachers of wealth on TV, Radio, Internet, and in Churches, it's a wonder there are any poor people left in the world!

Even among my Pastor friends, and some Christians that I know, they are always talking about the latest get rich quick scheme, either it’s medicine that can cure everything, or some gold mine that has been discovered in Wacko, Wacko land, and the shares are available right now, at knockdown prices! And when they tell you these things it’s always… “Get in quick, while there’s still big money to be made!’

John G. Wendel and his sisters were some of the most miserly people of all time. Although they had received a huge inheritance from their parents, they spent very little of it and did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves.

John was able to influence five of his six sisters never to marry, and they lived in the same house in New York City for 50 years. When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million. Her only dress was one that she had made herself, and she had worn it for 25 years.

The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers. Even worse, they were like the kind of person Jesus referred to "who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). - Daily Walk.

If it wasn’t so tragic, it would be funny. Unfortunately it’s not, because many, many, many people have been ‘Ripped off,' and they have lost their homes family, ministries, jobs, etc; getting conned into these get rich schemes. I have even met some who have been 'Ripped off’ a few times, but are still looking for their ‘Eldorada!'

When I challenge some of them about their involvement in these get rich schemes, almost to a person, they always say… “You can’t help poor people, if you are poor!” Or they say, “God will make me rich, so I can help the missions.” It borders on lunacy!

From the standpoint of material wealth, Americans [This goes for Australians as well!] have difficulty realizing how rich we are. Going through a little mental exercise suggested by Robert Heilbroner can help us to count our blessings, however. Imagine doing the following, and you will see how daily life is for as many as a billion people in the world…

1. Take out all the furniture in your home except for one table and a couple of chairs. Use blanket and pads for beds.
2. Take away all of your clothing except for your oldest dress or suit, shirt or blouse. Leave only one pair of shoes.
3. Empty the pantry and the refrigerator except for a small bag of flour, some sugar and salt, a few potatoes, some onions, and a dish of dried beans.
4. Dismantle the bathroom, shut off the running water, and remove all the electrical wiring in your house.
5. Take away the house itself and move the family into the tool shed.
6. Place your "house' in a shantytown.
7. Cancel all subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, and book clubs. This is no great loss because now none of you can read anyway.
8. Leave only one radio for the whole shantytown.
9. Move the nearest hospital or clinic ten miles away and put a midwife in charge instead of a doctor.
10. Throw away your bankbooks, stock certificates, pension plans, and insurance policies. Leave the family a cash hoard of ten dollars.
11. Give the head of the family a few acres to cultivate on which he can raise a few hundred dollars of cash crops, of which one third will go to the landlord and one tenth to the money lenders.
12. Lop off twenty-five or more years in life expectancy.

By comparison how rich we are! And with our wealth comes responsibility to use it wisely, not to be wasteful, and to help others. Think on these things. - Steve Williams.

When will these “Get rich quickly people” ever learn? Don’t they read the Bible? Do they really believe what they say, or are they being deceived by the enemy? My prayer is that… GOD WILL HAVE MERCY ON THEIR SOULS!

Loving Father, I thank you that you are continually working in me, and I take great comfort and encouragement from that. I also thank you for the Holy Spirit who helps me discern good and evil spirits. I pray I may never fall for these get rich schemes, but continually remind myself that the Lord is my shepherd, that I shall never be in need, and that I need to be content in every situation. In His wonderful name I pray. Amen!

Be encouraged.
GBYAY