Sometimes you begin to wonder if God is trying to get your attention. Like when you are reading through the Bible and the same theme pops up.
Like in last Friday’s readings in Proverbs:
“Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.
The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.
Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.” (11:24-28)
Or this one from Proverbs 23:4, “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.”
Then on Sunday I read the gospel at church in place of my wife who was off doing “grandmother duty.” The passage was from Luke 12:
Jesus said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” And again, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
My wife and I are quite generous with our money–at least compared to the average American. But still you wonder, is God hinting (or “whispering” to use Bill Hybels’ word) that perhaps I’m still too attached to earthly things. I’m a gadget freak, but I justify them as tools to do my job better. But am I still holding on to something? Or striving for the wrong things?
That’s a question to ponder periodically. Am I still on the path of a rich relationship with God? Or do I still have a foot on the other path–that of striving for riches?
[Note: I was in New Orleans at a conference last week. This week in Philadelphia at another one. I’m working on a plan to keep the posts up, though.]
Faith Venture 
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