Rich Believer, Poor Believer Series

RICH BELIEVER, POOR BELIEVER (MATT 14:6-21)

Are you rich or poor? Do you have a lot or a little? Do you have too much or not enough?

Here are some Internet quotes on what makes a man or a person poor:

“A person is poor when he or she has fallen below a standard of living which public opinion finds unacceptable.”

“A person is poor when his or her income is substantially less than the average income of the population.”

“A man is poor when he desires many things!” (most popular on Net)

“A man is poor when he does not realize what happiness is.”

“A man is poor when he wants nothing, knows nothing, has nothing.”

“A person is poor when he is friendless, but even poorer when he ceases being a friend.”

“A person is poor when he or she feels himself to be poor.”

“A person is poor when he cannot afford to buy meat, milk or cheese and is forced to consume only potato soup and bread.”

“A person is poor when he/she does not have fish to prepare with the sauce.”

“A person is poor when he is without God.”

Here are quotes on what makes a man or person rich, beginning with technical definitions:

“A man is rich when he has an income from invested capital which is sufficient to support him and his family in a decent and comfortable manner.”

“A person is rich when he or she does not have to work.

“A person is rich when he is happy and enjoys peace and beautiful things around the world.

“A person is rich when he has a loving family and one good friend.

“A person is rich when he is content.”

“A man is rich when he knows what to do when he fails.”

“A man is rich when he is doing things he wishes to do, uses his talents and is paid well to do so.”

“A man is rich when he has the true love of a woman.”

“A rich person is not the one who has the most; but the one who needs the least.”

I have a few favorites kept for many years:

“The poor man didn’t know he was poor until the government told him he was poor.”

Mike Todd: “I’ve never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is only a temporary situation.”

Rich or poor is not determined by what you have but who you are, what you have in Christ and what you do with what you have.

What makes a believer rich or poor? How do we get there? Why do people not see the riches they possess?

There is No Labor in Compassion

6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (Matt 14:6-14)

What kind of God is your God?

Time magazine (10/30/06) reported more than 85% Americans follow a Christian faith. 66% says “I have no doubts that God exists”; 14% says “I believe in a higher power or cosmic source”; 11% believes in God but with some doubts; 5% don’t believe in anything beyond the physical world.

More interesting in the article is believers’ perception of God, particularly the ABCD profile of God:

31% believe in an “Authoritarian” God who is deeply involved in daily life and world events. God is angry at sin and can punish the unfaithful or ungodly.

23% believe in a “Benevolent” God who is deeply involved in daily life and world events but is mainly a positive force reluctant to punish.

16% believe in a “Critical” God who does not really interact with the world but is unhappy with its current state and will exact divine justice.

24% believe in a “Distant” God who does not interact with the world and is not angry. God is more of a cosmic force that set the laws of nature. (Source: Baylor University)