Generous Life - Day 9
Hey Everyone,
Did you know that YOU ARE RICH? Yes, we are spiritually rich in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9). But, we are also financially rich. In yesterday's reading the day ended with a simple statement. Brian Kluth said, "Did you realize that if you personally make more than $1,500 per year you are richer than 75% of the world's 6+ billion people." That is mindboggling. I thought I would put that to the test. I went to the website that he references. In other research I discovered that the average yearly household income in Christiansburg was $40,851 in 2000. For sake of illustration I worked from that number. Here is what I found. If your yearly household income is $40,851 then you are in the top 2.92% of richest people in the world. I realize that some of us make less than that and some of us make more than that. But the bottom line is that we have truly been blessed beyond measure. But, I wonder what we are doing with the wealth that God has entrusted to us. I pray that we aren't being like the people of Haggai's day. They, too, had been deeply blessed but they wasted both the gift and the opportunity to be generous unto the Lord and others. They remind me of the pastor that stood before his congregation and told the church, "Church family I have good news and bad news. The good news is that God has given us all the money we need to do His work. The bad news is that the money is in your checking accounts." Brothers and sisters, we have been blessed by God. We are rich beyond measure. And we have been given opportunity. We must be wise and generous stewards. I pray that God will guide us on this journey to generous living and giving to Him.
Generously Living for Christ,
Pastor Matthew
