Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to Joni and Friends.
I sure do appreciate this time of friendship we enjoy together – and as friends, I always like sharing things I’ve done, what I’m learning, things I’ve read… like what I read the other day when I was flipping through the U.S. News & World Report. It was an article about Bill Gates; the magazine placed him as the richest person in the United States with an accumulated wealth of – get this – $53 billion (“B,” billion, not million) $53 billion dollars. Wow! We can’t even conceive how much money that is! But it got me to thinking… suppose you received a letter in the mail from Bill Gates which said that he had taken an oath by the blood of his son to spend his riches showing you as much kindness as he possibly could for the rest of your life. I mean, come on, would not that get you excited?!
Now hold that thought and let me read Ephesians 2:6-7, for it says that “God raised us up with Christ… in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Oh, friend, think about that; because it should really get us excited. Because it says that the riches of God’s grace are incomparable. I mean, the wealth of Bill Gates can’t even compare to God’s. You can’t even say it’s like a drop of water in Niagara Falls. God’s riches are incomparable. They can’t even be compared to Bill Gates’.
And here’s the best part. God is going to spend his riches showing you as much kindness in Christ as he possibly can for all of eternity. Oh, that fact is so soul-shaking, I’ve just got to say it again, because we can’t miss this: God is going to spend his enormous wealth showing you as much kindness in Christ as he possibly can for time immemorial. Friend, if you have been raised up with Christ, you are a very rich person. In Ephesians, Paul tells us to be certain of this exciting future because God has seated us with him in the heavenly places “in Christ Jesus.” We’re already there! We already have a head start on the riches of God’s grace. No longer are we spiritually impoverished, for he has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing, just as it says elsewhere in Ephesians.
When you and I finally realize this earth has nothing to offer that could ever satisfy the longings of our hearts, then we begin to appreciate the wealth of grace that is ours in Jesus… his priceless peace… his encouragement, abundant beyond measure… and the wisdom that is more precious than rubies. Who can put a value on all that we have in Jesus?!
You know… getting back to Bill Gates for a moment, one of the things that he has done with all this wealth is set up a global educational foundation – he seems to understand that when one has been blessed with great riches, you have to pass the blessing on. And it makes me think, if a man of the world like Bill Gates can do this, shouldn’t we who are not of this world do the same? We have been given so much – an eternal home, life everlasting, the favor of God, joy unspeakable, peace that passes understanding, grace upon grace… he has filled our cup to overflowing. And I have to ask you – this month, please join me in pouring your cup into the lives of those who are spiritually impoverished. Join me in passing on the riches. Be generous in your actions toward others. Be rich in mercy to those who’ve offended you. Sow peace where there is discord. Bless others as God has blessed you, for he is going to spend his wealth for all of eternity showing you as much kindness as he possibly can in Christ Jesus. God delights in spending his riches in Christ on you… then by all means pass on the wealth to others!
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