Observation: The Apocalypse (Or "Revelation") to John begins with messages from Jesus to each of seven Christian congregations in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). What stands out to me in his message to Smyrna is "I know your affliction and poverty, even though you are rich."
Application: this verse made me think of the above quote. Of course because it's been propagated online, it's hard to tell who said it, but it's true: "Some people are so poor, all they have is money."
It also reminds me of the song "dig a little deeper" from the Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog". Singing to a destitute Prince Naveen, the wise woman Mama Odie says,
Prince Froggy is a rich little boy
You wanna be rich again
That ain't gonna make you happy now
Did it make you happy then? No!
Money can be a powerful pain-killer. It can dull all sorts of spiritual aches, but just like other pain killers, that dulling comes at a great cost. It is addictive, and the story you believe about yourself when you have it, and even more so when you lose it, is even more addictive. But it does nothing to deal with the root cause of your pain in the first place. We spend way too much of our selves tracking down a financial solution to a spiritual problem. Maybe instead, we should acknowledge our inner poverty--our need for God, and for moments of divine abundance, which can turn whatever we have into a holy "enough."
Prayer: God, help me dig a little deeper, and find the fulfillment I need in you, and in the beautiful people you have placed in my life. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment