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Topic: Poor (10/25/04)
TITLE: Rich Is Better! By Rita Garcia 10/31/04 |
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Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has already laid hold of for me.” (Philippians 3:12)
In His Word, Christ has given us three sets of principles to grow rich by. They intertwine, forming a road map, complete with hills, valleys, and mountaintops. There are points of interest, and places of rest, pointed out along the way. There are mountains of dreams to be climbed, cooling streams to enjoy, and the path of peace to pursue. What are these principles for a rich life?
We are blessed with the Ten Commandments. In Matthew, Jesus astonished the multitudes when He gave us the common thread of the Ten Commandments. Love is brightly woven throughout, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” “This is the first and great commandment.” “And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” When you come to crossroads, take the path of love, the path of peace.
The multitudes seeking to hear Jesus are pressing in on every side. Jesus goes upon the mountaintop, the disciples sit around Him, and He teaches nine principles called the Beatitude. Like the Ten Commandments, the thread of love is interwoven in the message of the Beatitudes. We find our need for God, our need for others, and their need for us.
The third set of principles is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Jesus assured the Apostles He would leave a comforter, the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16, “Walk in the Spirit.”
In this same chapter Paul lists the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… (Galatians 5:22,23)
If we are walking in the Spirit, our lives will show it by the fruit we bear. The common thread woven throughout these nine principles is love. Probe into each of these nine fruits, and find the richness God has in store for those who love Him.
These principles are not what we find in the world; in fact they are the opposite. At the same time, the world is searching for the exact rich dimension, these principles add to life
We are called to, “Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8). “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
These twenty-eight principles take you right down to the nitty-gritty of life. We will not travel the most used roads, but we will be on the journey of a lifetime, a journey with the Master’s touch.
Rich is Better ©
><>Rita Garcia<><