True Wealth

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates made a very wise observation about how to live in this life and be happy: “Luxury is artificial poverty, and contentment is natural wealth.” I was so taken back by this statement upon reading it for a homeschooling lesson for my son years ago, that I wrote down the date and time that I read it, and saved that information. The reason that I wrote it down is because of the immense truth of his observation, and because the apostle Paul said the same thing by inspiration of the holy Ghost, with a little bit finer detailing: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition" (I Tim. 6:6-9). Jesus nailed down the same understanding quite firmly as well: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mat. 6:31-33). The lesson here is evident: If we put our priority on living for this life, over living for the kingdom of God, we can neither be content nor righteous in the sight of God.

It is also true that turmoil, fear, and unrest are certain to prevail in our lives if we prefer the matters of this present life over the things that pertain to the kingdom of God and his righteousness. "The peace that passes all understanding” is reserved for those who fall in love with, and stay in love with the holiness and love of God. To clearly define what it means to truly “seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,” let me say that it is simply to “purify [ourselves] even as he is pure,” as the beloved apostle admonished us to do (I Jn. 3:3). Jesus has given us the power to do just that through his personal baptism of the Spirit, which he suffered, died, and rose again to provide for us (Acts 1:8). If we refuse to allow anything that is contrary to God’s holy love to reside in our hearts, regardless of our circumstances, then and only then are we seeking with top priority God’s kingdom and righteousness. When we do this as our daily manner of living, then we can know the beauty and wealth that the apostle Paul spoke of when he said, “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philip. 4:11) I often tell people that the only place that we all live is in our own heart. It very simply is the condition of our heart that determines whether we are truly happy or not, and the only way to have pure "joy unspeakable” is to keep our hearts pure from sin by the cleansing power of God’s Spirit (I Pet. 1:8). I don’t know about you my friend, but in my book having pure steadfast joy in my heart and soul is pretty hard to beat. Amen.