How To Become Rich

“Jesus died and rose again 

to make you rich.”

In 1848 a young struggling family of four immigrated from Scotland to the United States. Andy, who was 13 years old, jumped right in to help his financially strapped family. His parents let him get a job at a cotton mill for $1.20 a week, which is equivalent to $48 a week in today’s numbers. Andy worked hard and eventually moved onto a local telegraph company, and then to the railroad. He excelled there and was promoted to supervisor by the time he was 24. One day an opportunity came to financially invest in the railroad, which proved to be profitable and launched him into the world of investing and business. One of those businesses was steel, and in 1873, while not yet 40 years old, he organized a new company, which soon became the largest steel company in the world. Then in 1901 Andrew Carnegie sold his business, which made him the world’s richest man. (Image from Pixabay)

Can a poor man become rich? You bet! Mr. Carnegie is an example of that, but what kind of wealth am I really talking about?

Jesus once told a story about two polar opposite men. “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.’” (Luke 16:9-25)

The story is meant to illustrate spiritual and moral truths. Jesus is not communicating how all wealthy people are oppressors, and how all poor are the oppressed, nor is He promoting the division of society into economic classes. Rather, one of the truths Jesus is teaching is how the rich man is a picture of mankind without God.

The rich man was only focused on his life, giving no thought about God or life beyond the grave. He was selfish, giving no consideration to the needs of the poor man. He was also prideful, exalting himself over the destitute man. Are you like the rich man, only living for this life, selfish and prideful? When one lives without God, these are the attitudes of his life. What happened when the rich man died? He instantly found himself in hell. When a person dies without God, they are separated from Him and all His goodness forever. While the rich man lived, he had all this world could offer him, but upon death, he was condemned to eternal poverty.

How can one truly become rich; that is rich in the things of eternal value? Simple. Have the spirit of the poor man, for he exhibited an attitude of humility and dependency upon God for all his needs. Then upon his death, he entered into the riches and glory of heaven for all eternity.

Jesus died and rose again to make you rich. For when you turn from your sinful ways and place your faith in Christ, then you will possess Him. And when His Spirit is in you, you become one of the wealthiest people on earth. For to possess Jesus, is to possess all the treasures of heaven.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray that people will examine their hearts to see if they have the heart of the rich man. Then bring each one to turn from their selfish and prideful ways, and turn to Jesus. And fill them with the Spirit of Christ, that they may become eternally rich in the things of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

New Year’s Possibilities

"The new year is an opportunity for

a new start."

The new year is an opportunity for a new start. I once heard about a man that regularly took a block of time in December to engage in planning and goal setting for the next year for his organization. The way our annual calendar is set up, it provides a vision for that. It is the end of the old and the beginning of the new. Not only do we see this concept in view of time, but in nature too. In our part of the globe, we are blessed to have four seasons. When fall and winter come, it is the end of the old. But when spring and summer come, it is the beginning of the new. We see this concept in life itself. In a family, when a grandparent has passed away there is sorrow in saying goodbye, but then later there is joy in welcoming a new little infant to the family. And we also see this in spiritual terms. For people outside of Jesus there is spiritual death and darkness, but once they are in Jesus, there is spiritual life and light. One writer from the Bible put it this way, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God…” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) (Image from freepik.com)

You may not realize it, but if you are outside of Jesus, you are living in the old. All that is in you is death and darkness. Though that sounds grim, it is true. And that may explain some things happening in your life and family right now. They are the consequences or by-products of it. We may try to “Instagram” our life to others, but we cannot escape the reality of our condition. No amount of busyness, noise, praise by others or positive self-talk can hide the truth. This is the old.

Jesus declared He is life and light. He is the one who can make all things new. He conquered death and darkness through His own death and rising again. For all who come to Him, He is willing to make new. But to receive the promise of being made new, there is a great cost. To receive what Jesus died to give you will cost your very life. What does that mean? It means you are no longer willing to put your desires, wants and needs above, beside or to the exclusion of God. It means that you deliberately choose to follow Jesus as your own Lord, King, Master and Ruler.

It is a new year, and the possibility of a new life is waiting for you. The empty blood-stained cross of Jesus is what it took to bring you the chance for a new start. Commit all to Jesus as the first step toward transformation.

A prayer for you - Lord God, I pray you will make many new creations today. May people receive by faith the promise of newness you rose again to give them. I pray they would turn from their ways and give all they are to you. There is no cost too great, compared to what you did on the cross for us. May they see that and humble themselves before you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Discover Your Destiny in 2024!

“You were created for a purpose. You have a destiny to achieve."

In August of 1991, I began packing my things up and saying goodbye to family and friends to head east. Over a year earlier I had a life changing encounter with Jesus. Through that, He put a desire with me to go and tell others about Him. This led me to the place where I loaded up all my belongings and left my home in Colorado and traveled to Kansas. There I enrolled in college to begin preparing for my new purpose in life. It was through that experience where I discovered my true destiny. (Image from depositphotos.com)

What about you, have you ever thought, “What is my destiny in life? What is my purpose?” Everyone’s answer falls into three groups. The first group says, “You bet! I get up every day with a sense of purpose for myself.” The second truthfully states, “Honestly, I have never considered the question. I just do not think that way.” And the third, “Me? I am totally lost. I have no idea where my life is headed.”

No matter how you are wired, let me say that your life has a purpose. You are destined to achieve something beyond yourself. And as we begin a new year, I think it is finally time to discover what that is.

One of the greatest men who ever lived, was Paul of Tarsus. He was a Jew, whom made his mark on the world in the first century. He was brilliant from his youth, with some believing he had an equivalent to a triple Ph.D.

He lived at the same time as Jesus of Nazareth, and began to make his mark on the world following Jesus’ death and resurrection. In Paul’s own words he wrote, “I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers." (Galatians 1:13-14) To fellow Jewish observers, Paul was a success and living out his destiny.

However, in the middle of all his achievements, something began to change. It started with a man named Stephen, where Paul oversaw his martyrdom. This impacted him. However, Paul went on to do more and more evil until he came face-to-face with the one he was trying to destroy - Jesus. He confronted Paul, causing him to fall to the ground. Through this encounter Paul was transformed and given a new direction in life. Years later after reflecting on that moment, he stated, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7) To Paul, all of his success in Judaism meant nothing in relation to Jesus.

Paul’s achievements early in life, was about “him.” He was living out “his” purpose. But something changed when he turned to Jesus. He realized how God had a purpose for him that was different than his own. Paul humbled himself, accepted that purpose, and began to live it, counting everything before that moment, “as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus…” (Phil 3:8)

What is true success? It is taking yourself before God and saying, “I want your purpose for my life, not my own.” Or it is admitting, “I do not feel any sense of direction for my life at all. Show me your purpose O God.” It is then letting God’s plan for you, to become your plan.

And where does it all start? At the cross, where Jesus died. It is where you also must die, die to what you feel is your purpose or even lack of purpose. Then take up God’s direction for you. It is at this intersection, where you will discover your divine destiny.

A prayer for you – Lord God, awaken people to their divine destiny. Let them wake up each day with a sense of holy purpose. Help them to find this at the foot of the cross, and begin a new life in you this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.