Alex on #Stuff

Picture this: You come home from school and barge in the front door. You shove your iPhone in your mom's face and start explaining how your friend Casey bumped your arm and you dropped the phone and the screen is cracked and you need a new one. Your mom barely glances at the phone before saying something like, "I don't think you'll get a new one."

You put the phone on the table and run up to your room, slamming the door behind you. You had a pretty bad day and you can't believe your iPhone is broken. You can still see the screen, but you'd really like a new phone, even though you just got this one for Christmas.

Later, your mom and dad come up to your room together. Your mom sits on the end of the end of the bed while your dad sits in your desk chair. They calmly explain how your family is going to have to move. They can't afford the house you're living in. Your dad tells you that you will have to share a room with your younger sister/brother who drives you crazy. Your mom tells you there probably won't be enough room in the bedroom for your desk and you will have to sell it. As your parents are leaving, your dad makes a negative remark about all the stuff in your room. You slam the door behind them because you are so angry. But then you sit on the floor and look around you. There's a 1st generation iPod Touch on the floor which you don't use anymore since you got your iPhone. Near it is that book you begged your mom to buy that you "haven't found time" to read yet. There's also a couple games you've only played a couple times.

Is this starting to sound familiar? Sure, you may not have an iPhone. You may not have to move. You may not feel very rich at all. But seriously, compared to a vast majority of the world, we are quite rich!

James says to us, "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you." (James 5:1) He goes on to say that wealth and money will not provide security or happiness to us. How many wealthy celebrities are facing problems right now? How many are in drug rehab centers or dealing with nasty divorces? Money doesn't make our problems go away.

However, money isn't bad. Dave Ramsey says that money is like a brick. You can use it for bad (like throwing it through a window) or good (like building a church). It's up to you.

We, as rich people, need to learn to live for something bigger than ourselves. See, God has this super-mega plan for the world which involves each person in a significant way. When we focus on how we can use our money, our talents, and our time in meaningful ways for other people, we can further God's plan and obey his commands.

Keep in mind, also, that God will not give you what you want just because you do what he wants. God isn't a vending machine. Be willing to do what is right even if you don't get any earthly rewards. Matthew 6:20 says, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Alex W / Message Writer