Rich and Powerful
People compile lists of the world’s richest people and refer to the president of the United States as the most powerful person in the world.
Some of the rich and powerful use their wealth and power to help others. That’s good, but wealth and power are not the only ways to help others. During a recent Sunday morning sermon, Ray told about a woman who did great good without what the world would define as either wealth or power.
Though the woman’s situation was difficult, she found a way to serve God and other people. She looked for birth announcements and obituaries in the newspaper. Then she prayed for the babies and for the families of those who had died.
When you look at the educational goals many parents have for their children, it seems that the main goals are for their children’s future wealth and power. Paul wrote to Timothy about a wealth and power quite different from the wealth and power of the world, a wealth and power available to everyone.
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited
or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches,
but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works,
to be generous and ready to share,
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,
but of power and love and discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7