This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24
“Wealth is no more a sign of the blessing of God than poverty is a sign of the curse of God. Money is no more a sign of the favor of God than a building is the sign of the presence of God. If we believe our wealth is a sign that God has blessed us, it’s probably time for our temple to be demolished…
Show me a person who is extravagantly generous and I will show you a person who knows the blessing of God. The blessing of God is not signified by what is received but by what is given away. It’s why some of the most generous people on the planet are the poorest.”
J.D. Walt in “Is it time for your temple to be demolished” Seedbed Daily Text for 10 October 2016. J.D. is a dear brother. I appreciate the wisdom in his Daily Text blog.
How often to we follow the cultural pattern of measuring God’s blessing in physical or monetary terms? Think about it. Big house, large salary, fancy car, nice clothes, and high net worth equal success in the eyes of the world, but not before God. God forgive us. We must demolish that kind of thinking altogether!
Extravagantly generous people serve as channels through which God’s material and spiritual blessings flow. Jenni and I are learning that the less we have, the easier it is to serve as conduits of God’s blessings. Having lots of stuff becomes a burden while living openhanded positions us to share God’s blessings.