What if you had so much money, that you could not spend it all?

Back in the eighty’s, I was a Youth Pastor, and I was charged with occupying a gang of profoundly bored teenagers.  They could not do Tik Tok because cell phones were yet to be invented.  So, I took them to their lair – the Mall. 

I divided them up into teams, and gave each team a calculator (yes, we did have those back then) and a ledger and a pen.  Teams were given one million virtual dollars to spend. 

The rules: Only one item could be purchased from each store; a limit of one kind of an item may be purchased and if it was sold by the measure, they were limited to 1,000 units of that item.

They had to record what and where the item was bought and its cost.  The team that spent the most would win. 

They were chomping at the bit to get started.   A million dollars – that was just crazy.  They bought a dazzling diamond necklace at the jewelry store, 1,000 pounds of fudge; the finest men’s suit, and a dazzling formal dress.  One team even went into office and tried to buy the mall. 

When they reported back, we were astonished to find that the most any team was able to spend was about $250,000 dollars. 

They had a million dollars but could not spend it all.

Here’s the thing, as Christians, you and I have way more than one million virtual bucks.  The apostle Paul considered we who know the Savior as being “rich” 

– These riches are spiritual in nature

In Romans 2:4 Paul wrote, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience…?”  God has richly showered us with tolerance, patience, and kindness.  These are commodities that are sorely lacking in our world, but bountiful with God.

Paul also mentioned God’s mercy (Romans 9:23); spiritual wisdom and knowledge (Romans 11:33); redemption and forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7) and Spirit powered strength (Ephesians 3:16).  And this is just a sampling of our godsend.

– These riches also have a material component.

In Philippians 4:19 we read, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”   We have been given a divine debit card and are able draw from His bulging account.  He promises to meet our legitimate needs.

– We did nothing to deserve these riches

According to Romans 9:23 He bestowed His riches on “vessels of mercy.”  That’s us.  He has enriched us only because of His mercy and grace. 

– God does not discriminate in the distribution of this wealth.

Romans 10:12 says “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him.”  His riches are for “all” who call upon Him.  Every race, gender, nationality – all of us.

– It’s impossible for us to understand

Paul wrote in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”  He used words like unsearchable and unfathomable to describe the way that God has enriched us.

– We can’t understand it, but we should try.

Paul wrote, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” – Ephesians 1:18.   The apostle prayed for believers both then and now that we might understand the generous riches we have through Christ in God.  Why?  Because just contemplating them excites our souls and draws us closer to Him. 

The riches we have been given are more than virtual – they are actual and eternal in their duration.   And I am certain we will never be able to spend it all. 

A PRAYER: Thank You Lord and please help us to use our riches to honor You and to bless others.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you always

Scripture passages are from the NASU.