It is life’s enrichments rather than the riches of life that bring us true contentment and fulfilment.
Unknown
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
William Arthur Ward
Have you taken the time to find out what enriches your life the most? What makes it worth living? Our lives are filled with all sorts of things. But have you ever sat quietly, listening to your heart to find what is most important to you?
Sometimes - and I would venture to say most of the time - our hours, days, weeks and months just run into each other becoming an endless river of work, family, love, distress and other situations that we try valiantly to deal with. But we inevitably come up short in one or more areas.
We were not designed to live a life of “getting” but of “enjoying”. John 10:10 – “Jesus came that we might have life, not earn it. The thief (religion) only comes to steal, kill and destroy.” Trying to “earn” or “get” life will only steal from you and end in destruction. Not only to yourself, but also to those around you because whatever you do affects those around you.
Life (being rich) comes from within, not from the outside.
“Being rich isn’t about money. Being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to take time to stop and eat the heart of the watermelon. And some of us will be rich without ever being more than a pay cheque ahead of the game.”
Harvey Mackay
The Bible promises that while endeavouring to find the life within (seek ye first the kingdom of God), we will naturally reap an external benefit (and all these things and more besides will be added to you.) Matthew 6:33
The idea is to get our eyes off what we don’t have or “think” we don’t have and onto what we “do” have. Stop conveying to yourself what you THINK you need and focus on what is. There is always something positive in any circumstance and God’s grace is always available. These are decisions you can make for a quality of life. Learn to have a thankful heart.
Remember you can only appropriate things for yourself. No one can make choices or decisions FOR you. You can listen to advice and get opinions, but the final decision is always yours.
You have to learn to take and be in control of your life with God’s help. Decide today to find the enrichment (that which makes your life richer) and the needs will be met. Focus on the good things for example your marriage, your children, the blessings of God, peace, security and so much more. It’s all a matter of choice.
Ken Keyes an American author said: “We always have enough to be happy if we’re enjoying what we do have and not worrying about what we don’t have.”
Psalm 112 lists the blessings of the righteous who have a thankful heart: (my paraphrase)
Happy (thankful) are those who fear the Lord. Yes. Happy (thankful) are those who delight in doing what he commands
- Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed
- They themselves will be wealthy and their good deeds will never be forgotten
- When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in
- All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly
- They will not be overcome by evil circumstances. Those who are righteous will be long remembered
- They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them
- They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly
- They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.
- They will have influence and honour.
Have a thankful heart and learn where your true riches lie.
