Wanna Be Rich?
God isn't so strapped for cash that he must set a limit and budget his blessings.
Look who’s there! The paparazzi are flashing photos and rolling TV footage not because the stars are there but because the people there number as many as the stars in the sky.
Isaiah takes us to a mountain in chapter 25 of his book where there’s a huge celebration, and it’s immediately evident that God hosts this celebration with an unimaginable extravagance. Isaiah does not describe this as a feast of food for all rich people but “a feast of rich food for all peoples.” There isn’t meat provided only for the best people but “the best of meats” for all people. And it’s not just wine for the finest people but “the finest of wines” for all people. Do you get it?
God isn’t so strapped for cash that he must set a limit and budget his blessings, forcing himself to make a difficult choice between offering either a first class feast to only a few of the rich and famous or only a few crumbs to a multitude. He offers a first class feast to a massive multitude!
There’s a time when it’s right and good for us to pinch our pennies but God doesn’t have to and doesn’t want to – ever. Not when it comes to the spiritual blessings of his first class extravagance offered to all people, the good and the bad. Jesus makes that point in his parable of the wedding banquet. God doesn’t have a vintage of his forgiveness that only a few connoisseur saints can taste properly. Any sinner can repent and enjoy the finest of his love. God doesn’t offer a cut of his might and mercy that only a few select priests or pastors can enjoy. Any child of God can taste of his extravagant goodness. God doesn’t open the gates of everlasting life only to people who’ve earned it. Jesus Christ swallowed the gloomy cloud of death and entombed its cold grip forever when he rose from the dead so that all people can enjoy resurrected living today and forever.
Be God’s guest today. And bring a friend.
PRAYER: How is it, Lord, that I, a poor, miserable sinner could become so rich without investing my own blood, sweat and tears? Are you that wealthy? Are you that benevolent? Don’t you realize that I can take your gifts for granted, that I can assume you’ll always be gracious, that I will somehow, someway, squander your rich blessings? O merciful Savior, let me not forget the sinful beggar that I am in need of your attentive compassion. Neither let me forget the wealthy noble I am blessed with the riches of Christ. Help me, then, to be generous and willing to share with others, and so enrich my life by doing your will. Amen.