Princess Diana I received a neat letter from a man who at one time thought I was “rich.” He apologized for a few remarks he made in his sermon. I had invited him to preach to our people at the church I was pastoring at the time. I took no offense as his remark, for I was truly rich, though not in the way he imagined.
When all is said and done rich or poor is mostly an attitude of mind, thus the bank account has little to do with it. Princes Diana said it well when she was still the darling on both sides of the Atlantic:
“They say it is better to be poor and happy than to be rich and miserable, but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody.”
Along the trail of my earthly walk, I have learned that I am “moody,” whether living in the relative squalor of my childhood, or as one major newspaper called our house during a period of adulthood, “residing in a country mansion!” Overstated, but relatively true. I understand the great evangelist D.L. Moody was named appropriately, to say nothing of the famous bouts of “moody” suffered by C.H. Spurgeon, so I at least identify with greatness in one aspect.
I have been learning the benefit of comparative moody. Most Americans, even the poor are light years ahead of four or five billion people on earth when it comes to the things money can buy. Add to this the things that we Christians have that money cannot buy and we are in good shape. So whether a tent or a cottage, rejoice, He is building many mansions over there, with our name on one. And in addition we have this great verse in Hebrews 13:5, [Let your] conduct [be] without covetousness; [be] content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
I am content with the calling God gave to me long ago. I supposedly could make more money doing something I don’t care for, but with what the Lord provides I can be a little moody, but join with Paul in his admonition to a young preacher in 1Timothy 6:8, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
Earlier in the passage Paul had written, 1Ti 6:6, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” I suppose it is an historical fact that you can be godly via Christ Jesus, and because of the truth of Christ being the ultimate satisfier, also be a little moody while thanking Him for His goodness.
And it’s okay to be content and moody and yet ask for someone to help you through a cold winter, as Paul did in 2Ti 4:21, “Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.” This is one of Paul’s dying requests.
The life lived to the fullest is the life lived in the completeness and simplicity of surrender to Jesus Christ and His choice for us.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
Need IT help? Check Oral Deckard
When all is said and done rich or poor is mostly an attitude of mind, thus the bank account has little to do with it. Princes Diana said it well when she was still the darling on both sides of the Atlantic:
“They say it is better to be poor and happy than to be rich and miserable, but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody.”
Along the trail of my earthly walk, I have learned that I am “moody,” whether living in the relative squalor of my childhood, or as one major newspaper called our house during a period of adulthood, “residing in a country mansion!” Overstated, but relatively true. I understand the great evangelist D.L. Moody was named appropriately, to say nothing of the famous bouts of “moody” suffered by C.H. Spurgeon, so I at least identify with greatness in one aspect.
I have been learning the benefit of comparative moody. Most Americans, even the poor are light years ahead of four or five billion people on earth when it comes to the things money can buy. Add to this the things that we Christians have that money cannot buy and we are in good shape. So whether a tent or a cottage, rejoice, He is building many mansions over there, with our name on one. And in addition we have this great verse in Hebrews 13:5, [Let your] conduct [be] without covetousness; [be] content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
I am content with the calling God gave to me long ago. I supposedly could make more money doing something I don’t care for, but with what the Lord provides I can be a little moody, but join with Paul in his admonition to a young preacher in 1Timothy 6:8, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
Earlier in the passage Paul had written, 1Ti 6:6, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” I suppose it is an historical fact that you can be godly via Christ Jesus, and because of the truth of Christ being the ultimate satisfier, also be a little moody while thanking Him for His goodness.
And it’s okay to be content and moody and yet ask for someone to help you through a cold winter, as Paul did in 2Ti 4:21, “Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.” This is one of Paul’s dying requests.
The life lived to the fullest is the life lived in the completeness and simplicity of surrender to Jesus Christ and His choice for us.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
Need IT help? Check Oral Deckard
RSS Feed