The Rich Man's Problem
JOHN 21:16a NLT
16 Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love
me?"
Every one desires to be loved.
We all want to be loved and accepted for who we are. We all
want to be wanted.
Possibly the greatest human desire is to have a suitable
companion who thinks you are wonderful.
The rich man's problem is determining whether someone loves him
as a person, or whether they only pretend to love him in order
to receive the benefits he can provide.
I once knew a wealthy man who discovered in his wife's diary
her whole plan to deceive him into thinking she loved him, so
she could marry him just for the purpose of getting his money.
What a blow!
The rich man has a huge problem. How can he know that someone
loves him instead of his money? How can he be certain that he
is not just being used for what he can provide because of his
wealth and power?
God faces the same difficulty as the rich man.
If God were to openly reveal Himself in all His power, riches,
and splendor -- the owner of the entire universe -- how could
anyone resist?
Yet, by hiding or concealing Himself, even to the point that
some people think God does not even exist, God is able to
determine who really wants to know Him -- not just for what
they can get out of it, but because they love Him.
Yes, God is our provider and source. Without Him we can do
nothing, and we would have nothing. But, on some level, God
desires to be pursued and loved for who He is, not just what He
does for us.
JOHN 4:23 ESV
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the
Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is on a mission to redeem the world and make everything
right. But He is also on a hunt for those who love Him. For
those who will worship Him in truth. Worship has to do with our
idea of someone's worth -- how valuable we think they are. It
can be thought of as worth-ship.
JOHN 14:23 ESV
23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
make our home with him.
SAY THIS: I think God is wonderful (as well as great)!
16 Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love
me?"
Every one desires to be loved.
We all want to be loved and accepted for who we are. We all
want to be wanted.
Possibly the greatest human desire is to have a suitable
companion who thinks you are wonderful.
The rich man's problem is determining whether someone loves him
as a person, or whether they only pretend to love him in order
to receive the benefits he can provide.
I once knew a wealthy man who discovered in his wife's diary
her whole plan to deceive him into thinking she loved him, so
she could marry him just for the purpose of getting his money.
What a blow!
The rich man has a huge problem. How can he know that someone
loves him instead of his money? How can he be certain that he
is not just being used for what he can provide because of his
wealth and power?
God faces the same difficulty as the rich man.
If God were to openly reveal Himself in all His power, riches,
and splendor -- the owner of the entire universe -- how could
anyone resist?
Yet, by hiding or concealing Himself, even to the point that
some people think God does not even exist, God is able to
determine who really wants to know Him -- not just for what
they can get out of it, but because they love Him.
Yes, God is our provider and source. Without Him we can do
nothing, and we would have nothing. But, on some level, God
desires to be pursued and loved for who He is, not just what He
does for us.
JOHN 4:23 ESV
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the
Father is seeking such people to worship him.
God is on a mission to redeem the world and make everything
right. But He is also on a hunt for those who love Him. For
those who will worship Him in truth. Worship has to do with our
idea of someone's worth -- how valuable we think they are. It
can be thought of as worth-ship.
JOHN 14:23 ESV
23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
make our home with him.
SAY THIS: I think God is wonderful (as well as great)!
posted by adevotion at 1:03 AM
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