There’s a Difference between Blessings and Riches

Proverbs 28

I often wonder why as a society we have drastic shifts in economic times. Economists
and Modelers have systematic approaches for predicting these shifts in economic trends,
but the Holy Spirit has led me to see otherwise. As I was having devotion this morning I
was reflecting on my personal life and where I was financially. The idea that this country
is in a recession has really hit home for me in more ways than one; but throughout the
past few months God has been speaking to me about my perception of things. We
commonly say that ‘a cattle on a thousand hill’ belong to God; everything we have
belongs to God…our homes, cars, finances (jobs), etc. However what happens when
those items are taken away? What happens when your financial stability is challenged?
How has your perception of riches and blessings been altered? This was my mindset, and
the Holy Spirit said to me “there’s a difference between blessings and riches”.

Shortly after, I was led to Proverbs 28; after reading just a few verses it became clear to
me why drastic economic times are relevant in our lives as Christians. God continually
blesses us with “items”, but very rarely takes them away. This give and take mentality is
what I believe Christ is trying to get me to see isn’t quite correct. It is more appropriate
to think of “items” in the care of stewards. Now there is a disassociation of riches and
blessings. I can have blessings without riches; but I cannot have riches without blessings.

I commonly talk about trusting God in all things, but it wasn’t until the “give and take”
mentality was removed that I saw the overabundance of resources in my life. It was easy
to say I trust and have faith in Christ with every resource at my beck and call. But now
given the current economic times and my situation, I could see the one-to-one
correspondence between me and the poor that Solomon addressed quite often in
Proverbs. Proverbs 28:20 says “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that
maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Yes there is a difference between riches
and blessings. During the time of Solomon, a poor person sometimes only had the
clothing on their back, the breath in their lungs, and a meager place to dwell. However
they still felt blessed. Thinking of the car and the job as items in your stewardship
probably makes more sense given the fact they say nothing about how blessed you are. It
wasn’t until I had no income I realized it’s says nothing about who I am; I am still
blessed. God still loves and cares for me. We attend churches that are heavily
accommodated, filled with well accommodated members, which sometimes sets our
standard. After completely reading Proverbs 28, I realized the irony of my current
situation. There is no situation! Just as God has supplied and cared for my needs up to
this point, He’ll continue to do the same if I put my complete faith in Him and follow
Him and not the desire for cars, homes, and jobs (riches). There are no riches without the
blessings of Christ, but there are blessings regardless of riches.

It is now I see what faith truly is; it is an ultimate walk with Christ forsaking the
knowledge of certainty. It is recognizing that I am a steward blessed by Christ with a
mission far larger than my job or home. It is seeing that I have to thank God for allowing
me to be a steward over many things, but realizing better is the poor that walketh in his
uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich (Proverbs 28:6).

In writing this devotional, I read Proverbs 28 a few times; each time meditating on the
fact the Holy Spirit lead me to this passage; there is something here for me! Given the
fact I don’t consider myself poor, I almost missed the message. I’m sure the people
during Solomon’s time that had meager accommodations didn’t consider themselves poor
either, in comparison to slaves, lepers and other homeless colonies. The point then and
now is God rightly provides for us. His blessings are more than enough, even when
every day society says otherwise. God is always in control.