James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

      Norm Sawyer: I pray for money, and God gives me His riches. 

      God’s riches are of greater value than our country’s currency. The Lord’s riches are eternal and bring far-reaching blessings that can meet the deep needs of a soul. This illumination came to me while praying and letting God know my current needs. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. I had that ‘aha’ moment when I asked the Lord for a certain amount of money I would need in a few days. Was I being anxious because I was thinking ahead? I’m not sure, but I knew an invoice was coming and I needed Abba’s blessing to meet the required amount to be paid. I thought of all the billionaires I assume to have enough to cover costs, and while thinking of this, the Spirit of the Lord prompted my inner man, and I heard, “Be rich towards God.” Luke 12:21 This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.

      The richness that God brings to our lives does not come with grief of any kind. Prov. 10:22 It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it. The Lord’s riches will bring the foundational building blocks for living. God admonishes us to give and be generous, but the world says to take and hoard. The riches of God lead us to bring blessings wherever we go, but the world’s riches often cause power grabs, strong-arm tactics and abuse of authority. Being rich in God allows the Holy Spirit to move freely in one’s life and gives us the ability to be open-handed toward those God brings into our sphere of influence.

      There needs to be a desire to be rich in God. There needs to be a willingness to be a good steward of God’s riches on this earth. We see this desire taking place when Jabez pleads with God to be blessed with God’s riches. Jabez was not a favourite among the family siblings. 1Chron. 4:9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. He felt there was something more than what man and family had to offer. Jabez needed the riches of God flowing through his life. 1Chron. 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. So God granted Jabez what he requested. What a turn of events this man had experienced in God. From being the butt-end of his family’s irritation to being the blessed of All Mighty God.

      When the Apostles Peter and John were walking toward the temple gate, a beggar was asking for the type of riches that can get a person through daily financial problems. Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. Peter and John said something that took the focus off of the beggar’s everyday needs. Acts 3:3 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. Look at us who have been with Jesus, and we will give you riches you have not thought were possible. The beggar asked for the riches of currency, but Peter gave him the riches of heaven. Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

      The Lord asks us to seek first the kingdom of God and become rich in a relationship with God, and not always focus on the moment at hand. Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The Lord seems to be saying that if we were rich toward God, our fear of being in need would not press upon our hearts and minds as much as it does to most people. There would be a relational understanding that the Lord would provide all our needs and we would not be left destitute. Matt. 6:30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you — you of little faith?

      James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? Those who are rich in faith and walk in Christ’s salvation will inherit the kingdom of God. We are now hearing of trillionaires being the new rich people in the world. The billionaires are losing ground to the new status symbols that the world says are life-giving. That day will come when we are all standing before the Lord, and those who are rich in God and rich in faith will receive the crown of life that will be given to them by God Himself. These riches will last throughout eternity, whereas the trillionaires will be losing to the inevitable devaluation of an earth-bound currency void of life. We who are in Christ, are the richest souls in the universe because it is God who determines what true riches are. Now that is being rich.