|
|
by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"Sell your possessions and give to those in need." (Luke 12:33)
Does money make you really happy?
We think we can buy everything with money and live happily here on earth, and
that we can buy on our terms/time. In reality, nobody has ever said so. It is a
mirage to entangle and destroy the happy human life God has intended. Whoever
put money as a priority in their lives have only ended up in poverty of
happiness and shame.
Money is to be used for the needy and not to be stored. If the rich are ready to
share their possessions with the poor, there won't be any poor people on earth,
and everyone will be happy here and will have a place in the kingdom of heaven.
Otherwise, the rich and the poor are deprived of bliss here and in the life
thereafter.
Planning for retirement - preparing for life before death is wise, but
neglecting the poor is disastrous. If you accumulate wealth only to enrich
yourself with no concerns for helping others, you will enter eternity
empty-handed. Money seen as an end in itself quickly traps us and cuts us from
both God and the needy. Does God's love touch your wallet? Does your money free
you to help others? Sell what you must to bring your life into line with God's
purpose.
Millard Fuller and Linda had achieved the American dream in their 30's. They
became the millionaires with fancy car, huge house, lots of land and all the
enjoyment that money provides except happiness. "We just thought there must be
something more to life," Millard explains. On the advice of a friend, they
turned to God. "By seeing other Christian life styles," explains Linda, "we
quickly saw there was much more to life than the success money can bring." They
sold off their businesses and their big house, and gave the money away. They
sold their land, their boats, their horses, their cattle. In fact, they got rid
of just about everything. At God's prompting, they formed ‘ HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY', a worldwide group that seeks to eliminate all sub-standard housing.
The former president of USA, Jimmy Carter, is an active volunteer in it. By that
bold act of Miller and Linda, now thousands of families go to bed each night in
safe secure homes.
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever." -
M.K. Gandhi
Jesus, we pray for the poor without the basic necessities of life. Let the rich be generous to give their wealth to the needy and the poor be thankful to you and to their fellow beings. Let everyone live in safe secure homes with love and happiness. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Yesterday | Today with Jesus Archives | Next
More Devotionals | Weekly Devotionals | Sermons | Essays | Articles | Bible Study | Library - Home | Baselios Church Home
-------
Malankara World
A service of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox
Church, Ohio
Copyright © 2009-2020 - ICBS Group. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
Website designed, built, and hosted by
International Cyber Business Services, Inc., Hudson, Ohio
