"Get Rich Quick"Our Inadequacy is God's Sufficiency Have you ever had an urgent need to get rich quick? Maybe you have financial pressures that have stirred anxiety and fear in your heart. Perhaps you have a medical bill that demands payment today. Facing foreclosure on your home? Need brakes and tires for your car? Think the only solution is to get rich quick? These pressing situations are legitimate concerns. We all wonder, worry, and fret over the seemingly "no-solution problems" that loom large before us from time to time. We all face them sooner or later...but consider this: Our inadequacy is really God's sufficiency. The Feeding of the Five thousand. No doubt you have already heard this miraculous story from the Bible before, but let me refresh your memory. Five thousand people had followed Jesus into the desert to hear him speak. They were average people just like you and me with financial problems, health issues, heart aches, and spiritual needs. They sought Jesus because they knew he could perform miracles. They wanted their earthly, physical needs met. They wanted instant gratification which I refer to as the get rich quick mentality.
They listened to Jesus preach all day long. He had much compassion on them and miraculously healed the sick and taught them about the Kingdom of God. Jesus did not perform these miracles to create curiosity and draw attention to himself. He wanted to produce conviction in the people's hearts. He was trying to teach them important truths about the greater spiritual needs they had rather than just the temporal When it was about time for them to get going and head back home, Jesus was concerned for their hungry state as they had come to the desert place and had stayed all day long without any food. He knew they were weak and needed nourishment. Jesus sat the 5,000 down to be fed before their journey home began. His disciples all questioned how on earth that was going to happen as the only one amongst them with something to eat was a small boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. They knew it would be impossible to feed so large a crowd with so little. There was a tremendous need that was humanly impossible to find a solution for. It was the perfect opportunity for God to show His power and providence. Jesus prayed to God and thanked him for providing the bread and fish and proceeded to instruct his disciples to distribute the food. The disciples obeyed in spite of their doubts. Miraculously God fed the 5,000 people. Not only did they have plenty to eat but there was enough left over to feed the twelve disciples. Jesus performed this miracle to reveal that He was the "Bread of Life." He referred to himself this way because he wanted the people to remember Him as someone who would always satisfy their spiritual hunger and thirst just as he would meet their physical needs. "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35) Your Needs Satisfied In conclusion, never seek to get rich quick, pop a pill, or stuff your face with junk food when you feel that whole in your heart, are anxious, or get stressed out. Jesus knows you need your physical needs met along your journey in this life. Seek Jesus first and He will surely provide for you one day at a time through a job or a home based business, or by some other means. God says even an earthly father provides for his children. But just like your earthly dad wants a closer relationship with you as a son or daughter, Jesus desires to satisfy your spiritual longing first. Sometimes He allows great financial hardships to come about so you will recognize your deep spiritual need for Him before He takes care of your temporal problems. Only Jesus can satisfy a hunger like that. It will never be satisfied looking for a get rich quick scheme or any other quick fix means. If you have never accepted Him as your personal Saviour and "Bread of Life" you can find out more about it here. If you are already a child of God but have put alcohol, cigarettes, over-eating, drugs, or get rich quick idols before Him, go to him in prayer right now. Ask for his forgiveness, let go of your vices and follow Him once again. It's time to get back on the right track. Your job or home based business is a place of service to be a blessing to others and was never intended to be a means to get rich quick. God will provide for your physical needs one day at a time as you step out on your spiritual journey back home to Him and help others along the way teaching them everything you are learning.
There are many more ways to show your love for Jesus by putting Him first, doing good to others, and living for Him. Trust Him to provide as you daily seek to do His will. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."(Luke 9:23,24) Back from "Get Rich Quick" to Christian Character
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