[ampaterry]

Last night, my wife and I went outside just after sunset and observed the planets Venus and Jupiter in the Western sky. They appear close together right now, and so bright that you can see them easily while the sky is still light from the recently set sun.
I feel so blessed at times like these, and realize that I have wealth beyond measure.

Do you remember the old John Wayne movie War Wagon? The stolen gold was mixed into flour barrels to avoid detection during the get-away. But the wagon with the barrels of flower in it had a runaway, the barrels bounced off the back all along the trail, and the wooden barrels of flour mixed with gold broke on the ground as they hit, scattering their contents all across the prairie. A tribe of starving and displaced Indians were walking near the trail and witnessed this event – they all started scooping up the flour and putting it into baskets to take with them – to them, it was food.
Were these people rich or poor?

The story is told of an Arab who lost his way in the desert. He was in danger of dying from hunger. At last he found one of the cisterns out of which the camels drink and a little leather bag near it. "God be thanked!" exclaimed he. "Ah, here are some dates or nuts; let me refresh myself." He opened the bag, but only to turn away in disappointment. Alas, they were only pearls, and what good were they to a man who was dying of hunger?
Was this man rich or poor?

How about you? Are you rich or poor? After taking a thorough audit, I find that I am rich. Very rich.

The Word of God tells us that riches can be a blessing:
2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (KJV);
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

But riches is nothing without righteousness:
Psalms 37:16 (KJV);
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

May God bless each one of you with great riches - the kind that really matters, and lasts.