Charge the rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, He offering to us richly all things to enjoy - 1 Titus 6:17
How do you define ‘rich’?
I used to define it as in monetary context (what I owned, stuff I had, labels I wore) until I met a man from the Middle East. He was a client of mine several years ago - we were in a treatment room (he was a software engineer with what I call ‘techno-neck’ – caused by too many hours leaning over a key board with less than perfect posture) and he said that he never felt rich until he came to the US.
Huh? (I happened to know this man came from an absurdly wealthy background…his family was in oil). He went on to ask me if I had any familial enemies that would want me dead, if I had any religious factions scheming my demise, if I had any loved ones dead due to violence… He smiled and said ‘then my dear, you are very, very, very rich’. (He then offered to take me back to his ‘home country’- and marry me off to his nephew.)
So, monetary abundance and lack of violence is richness?
Last October I was chatting to God about my finances (triple outgo, no ingo) and shared my ‘plight’ with someone. She looked at me hand on her hip, other on the counter and, without smiling, asked me how much I had in savings…about 6 grand. “And”, she continued, “How big is your house”…about 800 square feet. “Do you own a car?”…yes, “Do you live alone”…yes, “Are you able to buy food?”…yes, “Do you have medical care?”…yes, “Do you make your own decisions?”…yes. “Well Dena, I would say that you are very wealthy indeed.” Then she went back to wiping down the counter.
Whoa. I had never thought of myself as wealthy. In modern day American society I’m not, but, on the world’s economic scale I am. I guess it is all about how you view it – are you comparing what you have (and want) to your nearest neighbors, or to your fellow man on another continent.
I view wealth like a sluice gate. God is at the source end of the flow and opens and shuts the door as he sees we have (or don’t have) need. The problem isn’t with his end (surprise) it is with ours. See, the sluices aren’t individual - they are all connected and the ‘water’ flows from one to another spilling here and there; but, we get panicky about ‘having enough’ and put our own barrier in to keep the ‘water’ where we want it (on that topic, read 2 Corinthians 9:6 when you have a moment…).
I’m not saying Americans are hoarders and that they are a greedy bunch…I just think their view on ‘richness’ can be bit twisted. Finances are always a sticky subject. I have seen people get pretty heated when I ask who controls their money…God or them. It scares them to say God – they want to say it, they know it is the ‘right way’, but don’t want to experience the perceived risk of living that way.
So, I guess it comes down to several questions…1. How do you define ‘rich’? 2. What is in your sluice besides ‘water’? and 3. Who really controls your finances? Hard questions – but they made a HUGE difference in my life when I truthfully answered them.
Updates:
Living – safely ensconced at my relative’s house
Car – I have one until Eric returns – probably mid August.
Samson – I have figured out a place where I can feed him with out his ‘cousin’ Lucky stealing his food…the windowsill…Lucky is to ‘padded’ to be able to balance and snack at the same time – he falls off (poor thing)!
Financing – Thank you for your generosity…I am humbled and emotionally touched every time a gift comes in. I am awaiting my latest report and will let you know the status in my next update.
Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt and Uncle for most of the summer but, when the new rēp headquarters are determined, I need to a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – I am happy to keep borrowing them if people are generous enough to let me do so…but, eventually, I will need a car long term, one that gets great gas mileage, isn’t too expensive to insure, and that is an automatic would be awesome!
Work – that I hear God’s voice on how HE wants things done!
Samson – That the early morning ‘plea’ (yowling) to join the bunnies outside would cease! It is starting to grate on me…getting 6 hours of sleep is just not enough!
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise $2,500 - $5,000 a month cover basic expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.
I value you and your prayers – thank you.
Dena
How do you define ‘rich’?
I used to define it as in monetary context (what I owned, stuff I had, labels I wore) until I met a man from the Middle East. He was a client of mine several years ago - we were in a treatment room (he was a software engineer with what I call ‘techno-neck’ – caused by too many hours leaning over a key board with less than perfect posture) and he said that he never felt rich until he came to the US.
Huh? (I happened to know this man came from an absurdly wealthy background…his family was in oil). He went on to ask me if I had any familial enemies that would want me dead, if I had any religious factions scheming my demise, if I had any loved ones dead due to violence… He smiled and said ‘then my dear, you are very, very, very rich’. (He then offered to take me back to his ‘home country’- and marry me off to his nephew.)
So, monetary abundance and lack of violence is richness?
Last October I was chatting to God about my finances (triple outgo, no ingo) and shared my ‘plight’ with someone. She looked at me hand on her hip, other on the counter and, without smiling, asked me how much I had in savings…about 6 grand. “And”, she continued, “How big is your house”…about 800 square feet. “Do you own a car?”…yes, “Do you live alone”…yes, “Are you able to buy food?”…yes, “Do you have medical care?”…yes, “Do you make your own decisions?”…yes. “Well Dena, I would say that you are very wealthy indeed.” Then she went back to wiping down the counter.
Whoa. I had never thought of myself as wealthy. In modern day American society I’m not, but, on the world’s economic scale I am. I guess it is all about how you view it – are you comparing what you have (and want) to your nearest neighbors, or to your fellow man on another continent.
I view wealth like a sluice gate. God is at the source end of the flow and opens and shuts the door as he sees we have (or don’t have) need. The problem isn’t with his end (surprise) it is with ours. See, the sluices aren’t individual - they are all connected and the ‘water’ flows from one to another spilling here and there; but, we get panicky about ‘having enough’ and put our own barrier in to keep the ‘water’ where we want it (on that topic, read 2 Corinthians 9:6 when you have a moment…).
I’m not saying Americans are hoarders and that they are a greedy bunch…I just think their view on ‘richness’ can be bit twisted. Finances are always a sticky subject. I have seen people get pretty heated when I ask who controls their money…God or them. It scares them to say God – they want to say it, they know it is the ‘right way’, but don’t want to experience the perceived risk of living that way.
So, I guess it comes down to several questions…1. How do you define ‘rich’? 2. What is in your sluice besides ‘water’? and 3. Who really controls your finances? Hard questions – but they made a HUGE difference in my life when I truthfully answered them.
Updates:
Living – safely ensconced at my relative’s house
Car – I have one until Eric returns – probably mid August.
Samson – I have figured out a place where I can feed him with out his ‘cousin’ Lucky stealing his food…the windowsill…Lucky is to ‘padded’ to be able to balance and snack at the same time – he falls off (poor thing)!
Financing – Thank you for your generosity…I am humbled and emotionally touched every time a gift comes in. I am awaiting my latest report and will let you know the status in my next update.
Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt and Uncle for most of the summer but, when the new rēp headquarters are determined, I need to a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – I am happy to keep borrowing them if people are generous enough to let me do so…but, eventually, I will need a car long term, one that gets great gas mileage, isn’t too expensive to insure, and that is an automatic would be awesome!
Work – that I hear God’s voice on how HE wants things done!
Samson – That the early morning ‘plea’ (yowling) to join the bunnies outside would cease! It is starting to grate on me…getting 6 hours of sleep is just not enough!
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise $2,500 - $5,000 a month cover basic expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.
I value you and your prayers – thank you.
Dena
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