Is life comfortable with everything running smoothly? Then this is a time to fall humbly before God in thanksgiving and exercise faith to resist fleshly impulses. Don’t make the mistake of thinking “the good life” is where it’s at.

6775562-canadian-money“A rich man had land that produced good crops. He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God” (Luke 12:16b-21 God’s Word©).

The problem in this parable is not “material riches”. Jesus warns against resting in pleasures, greed serving only self, and plans rooted in this temporary world without regard for Creator.

WorldNotHomeInstead, choose the opposite kind of “riches” from a personal “partnership with God”. The presence of Paraclete is real when life is good and when it’s not. A relationship with Jesus surpasses all theological theories, and exceeds “material riches” because “You have here no lasting home. You are a stranger and a pilgrim wherever you may be, and you shall have no rest until you are wholly united with Christ. Why do you look about here when this is not the place of your repose? Dwell rather upon heaven and give but a passing glance to all earthly things. They all pass away, and you together with them. Take care, then, that you do not cling to them lest you be entrapped and perish. Fix your mind on the Most High, and pray unceasingly to Christ” (Thomas à Kempis, “The Imitation of Christ”, Book Two, Chapter One).