How to Know how Truly Rich You Are

Do you ever find yourself “wanting?” For example, I noticed a wanting trend in my own thinking lately. My mind drifts toward wanting to be thinner and more relaxed. Friends post fun vacation photos and I want to go someplace exciting. My kitchen table is the catchall spot for mail, and mugs, and sun hats, and more, so I want a house cleaner to keep my home organized and spotless.

The Wanting

It’s like a disease, this wanting. We all have a variety of things and situations we want: children who behave; a cook to prepare dinner; a better job; recognition; a new friend; a peaceful morning alone; someone to do the laundry; a car that runs…

The wanting list is endless. Wanting is our culture’s mantra.

Very few of us would identify ourselves as rich. We all know someone who makes more money than we do, has a larger home, and a nicer car; we perceive them to be better off than us. So, we classify ourselves in the “not rich” category, and we add to our list of wants.

And yet, we have so much.

A Look into First Timothy

Rich versus Not Rich

But first we need to consider the possibility that we may fall into the “rich category.” I understand we all have needs. For instance, you may have a houseful of children you adore, and you live paycheck to paycheck. Some of you live on a fixed income, and when an emergency arises it fills you with uncertainty. Perhaps your car just broke down, and you don’t have the additional funds to fix it yet, or someone in your family has been extremely sick and the medical bills are piling up. You may be thinking I’m off my rocker because you know you are definitely not rich.

Perhaps rich is not the best word for us to use. Abundance is a great word, but I can hear the sighs of those of you who wish you at least had a little bit of abundance. The word enough is so subjective, so it’s not the best choice either. We don’t believe we live in plenty unless it’s plenty of trouble.

The Struggle of Wanting

If push came to shove and we had to choose a word, we might land on sufficient or tolerable. Why do we struggle to see how blessed we are? It’s because of the wanting.

We get caught up in seeing life from the perspective of this world only. Sadly, we measure our self-worth and the success of our life by how we compare to others. We don’t see ourselves as rich, or living with abundance, or being blessed, because we see others who appear to have achieved more, gone farther, and look better than we do.

Wisdom from the Psalms

In Psalm 103, David writes about the forgiving God and how good and gracious God is.

“My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits. He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

Psalm 103:1-5 CSB

As followers of Christ, we are His beneficiaries. Doesn’t that sound rich? He has freed us from the punishment of sin, by graciously gifting us forgiveness. He heals our soul from all the wounds sin has ravaged on us, and redeems, or restores to us, the life He meant for us to have. The Psalmist even says God Almighty satisfies us with good things. This all sounds like the ideal description of an extraordinarily rich life.

Rich by a Different Standard

A Fresh Perspective on Abundance

When we grasp the abundance God has given us, we begin to see ourselves with more than what we thought we had before. God changes our minds and hearts, teaching us to focus on loving and giving in the same way He loves and gives to us. Take a quick test and answer the following questions.

• Do you have something you can give away?
• Do you have items you are willing to share and allow others to borrow?
• Can you help a neighbor or friend in need?
• Do you donate to a charity?
• Do you have a skill that you use to help or encourage someone else?
• Do you volunteer at a non-profit organization, or your church?
• Do you have more than one of many different types of items, like shirts, shoes, books, or games?
• Do you tithe?

If you answered yes to two or more of the above questions, you have an abundance of something. You may have plenty of money, plenty of time, plenty of energy, or plenty of something else entirely, and you have found a way to live “rich.”

Battling the Wanting

We must work to consciously live in such a way, that regardless of our current economic status, we exhibit traits that reveal we know we live within the blessings of God. Wanting something isn’t the unforgiveable sin, but too much wanting can create a mess of problems for us, and we wind up forgetting to bless the Lord who blesses us so generously.

It’s good to see that we are rich in the gifts God gives. We are rich in forgiveness and healing, in love and compassion. But God doesn’t stop there, He also satisfies us with good things. He blesses us abundantly.

I encourage you to take a moment and, just like the Psalmist, bless the Lord. There’s no need for you to dwell in the land of wanting because you are already rich in the benefits of God.

Woman with Money Photo by Blogging Guide on Unsplash