Got Joy?
Its much better than milk! But why do most people not have it including many Christians? Now understand……..I am not talking about laughing and fun and party time and jokes………NO….NO….NO!!! I am talking about the Joy that Peter mentions resulting from being born again to a Living Hope in 1 Peter 1: 3-9…….
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
Now lets talk about this……for the last several weeks, I believe God has been busting my chops about “the craving for money”.
I see this craving in me and in many, if not most American Christians that I know and associate with. I sincerely believe this craving and addiction for more money is the new American Christian Porn Addiction accepted by the Church and most Christians because it is the sign of success and capitalism. And often promoted by Godly people! Paul clearly spells it out in 1 Timothy 6: 6-10.
But what response do I get from Godly men?? and I just heard it from Dave Ramsey!!
They always quote Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous
Folks……..now I believe there is truth here…………. but I believe for the most part…….
This verse is used as a cop out!
A cop out to not give, a cop out to be stingy, greedy, to hold back, to not give til it hurts …what some call frugal,
Inward, selfish, the fear of dying poor and clinging to materialism and stuff……. like it gives life and joy..It does Not!
What happened to the “Widow’s Mite” giving mentioned by our Savior? Luke 21: 1-4
In the 10 years before my Mother’s death in February, I seldom had a conversation with her without her mentioning her money. She loved it!
She had no joy…….money was all she had and it was very important to her and she loved to talk about it……it gave her security but…..
She lived sad and she died sad……….NO joy….just sadness! And she always said, But I am leaving it with you kids.
But the inheritance that her kids received was not the inheritance that Peter mentions……..not even close….
The houses, the cash, the jewelry, the 401K’s………..
All perishable, all defiled, all fading……kept on Earth, not in Heaven!!
There is no question in my mind, heart and soul, that this craving for money is robbing me and many of my friends and others of this Joy that Peter speaks of!
“Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation
Ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved By various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—————
More precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire——————
May be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.
Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and
Rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
Obtaining the outcome of your faith,
The salvation of your souls.”
Eldredge makes the point that Joy is not being sought after and seldom thought of in our day to day living and he’s right…
But joy is the point. I know it is. God says that joy is our strength. “The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). I think, My strength? I don’t even think of it as my occasional boost. But yes, now that I give it some thought, I can see that when I have felt joy I have felt more alive than at any other time in my life. Pull up a memory of one of your best moments. The day at the beach. Your eighth birthday. Remember how you felt. Now think what life would be like if you felt like that on a regular basis. Maybe that’s what being strengthened by joy feels like. It would be good.
Eldredge, John (2010-09-19). Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really. (pp. 45-46). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
So……where do you find your Joy?
I have been looking…………I know where it’s not!!