November 21
Ezekiel 42:1-43:27; James 5:1-20; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 28:6-7
What does a blessed life look like? We often think that rich people are blessed, and poor people are not. Yet true blessing is not found in wealth or material possessions but in our connection to God.
Ezekiel describes the greatest blessing we have as experiencing the presence of God. The temple was intended to be a place where humanity and God would experience the relationship that he originally intended in the Garden of Eden. Being with God is greater than anything this world can offer. Yet we often are tempted to find greater value in the things of the world than the things of God.
Proverbs 28:6 says, "Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse." This shows us that true life is not found in the amount of one’s wealth but in walking with God. This verse pictures the blessed life as someone who is walking with God regardless of the size of their bank account. True blessedness is found in proximity to God as Ezekiel points out, not in proximity to wealth.
James 5 gives us an even starker warning when he says that wealth may lead to greater judgment. If wealth is acquired in a way that doesn't bring honor to God, then it will only lead to a harsher judgment in the end. Rather than wealth being a sign of blessedness it can function like a noose around our neck.
So let us learn to pursue God with greater energy and intentionality than anything we pursue in the world.
Father God, thank you that true blessing comes by your grace. Help me to remember the blessing of eternity and to find joy and peace amid present difficulty. Amen.
Question: How can we remember what true blessing looks like, in contrast to the ideas of our culture?
What does a blessed life look like? We often think that rich people are blessed, and poor people are not. Yet true blessing is not found in wealth or material possessions but in our connection to God.
Ezekiel describes the greatest blessing we have as experiencing the presence of God. The temple was intended to be a place where humanity and God would experience the relationship that he originally intended in the Garden of Eden. Being with God is greater than anything this world can offer. Yet we often are tempted to find greater value in the things of the world than the things of God.
Proverbs 28:6 says, "Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse." This shows us that true life is not found in the amount of one’s wealth but in walking with God. This verse pictures the blessed life as someone who is walking with God regardless of the size of their bank account. True blessedness is found in proximity to God as Ezekiel points out, not in proximity to wealth.
James 5 gives us an even starker warning when he says that wealth may lead to greater judgment. If wealth is acquired in a way that doesn't bring honor to God, then it will only lead to a harsher judgment in the end. Rather than wealth being a sign of blessedness it can function like a noose around our neck.
So let us learn to pursue God with greater energy and intentionality than anything we pursue in the world.
Father God, thank you that true blessing comes by your grace. Help me to remember the blessing of eternity and to find joy and peace amid present difficulty. Amen.
Question: How can we remember what true blessing looks like, in contrast to the ideas of our culture?
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