Title: Thinking Rich or Poor/Topic: God's Resource

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

Scripture: Matthew 26:8-13
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Observation/Application: The disciples' reaction to someone's display of wealth sounds much like that of many Christians I hear today who rail against anyone who they see as being “conspicuously” well-off financially. It seems to be very easy to criticize how a wealthy person spends their money that they have worked hard to earn. It is easy to insist that they should be giving more to charitable causes. I think this attitude comes from a “scarcity” mentality. If you hold that money is hard to get, that there is never enough of it, and that it is a limited and finite resource, then it follows that you would think anyone who has more than you do, has too much and has a responsibility to share with others. God doesn't seem to have that idea. He has an “abundance” mentality. It's built into creation. One seed produces a plant that produces hundreds of seeds. The Bible even uses “seed” as a metaphor for money. There is no limit to the amount of money that can be generated in this world. Instead of judging what others have and what they give, we need to make sure we are using our own financial resources in a way that honors God.

Prayer: Father, help me to understand all of the abundance you have built into this world. Help me to receive all the abundance you have available to me. May all your people thankfully receive from your hand and make this a better world for everyone by what they invest in others. I am grateful that there is no limit to your resource and that you give us all things richly to enjoy.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.