Spiritual Riches

The Gospel Herald ^ | Dec, 08 2011 | Boyd Bailey

[delacoert]

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:16-18

Any individual, family, company, government, church or ministry can spend more than they can afford. Their means to pay can be overcome by their ability to generate income. In earthly economies it is common to over spend and be over budget, but in God’s economy there is unlimited access to the spiritual riches of our Savior Jesus Christ. A Christian’s spiritual riches are never depleted or overdrawn in their heavenly bank account.

God gives grace upon grace to His children, so they can give grace to the deserving and undeserving. He heaps humility in great portions upon His people, so that they can in turn walk in humility with one another. The Lord sends a flood of faith, so the faithful can infuse faith into the faithless. Indeed, His storehouse of salvation is ready save to the uttermost.

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Who do you know who is spiritually broke, even bankrupt? Have you introduced them to God’s love and forgiveness to which they have immediate access and abundance? What a privilege to steward the spiritual riches of our Master Jesus in ministry to the masses, a small group or an individual. You cannot outspend what is in infinite supply. So, prayerfully be heaven’s broker to those in need and offer them God’s immense gifts.

As a child of the King you need not be shy in surveying the needs around you and asking your heavenly Father for the wisdom to resource well the world you influence. Spiritual poverty afflicts the rich, the famous, the poor, the infamous, the middle class and all the groups in-between. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into rightly dispensing His riches. 

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (Ephesians 1:18).

Perhaps you start with a prayer for the Lord to remind you of your spiritual wealth. Ask Him to illustrate for you how your heavenly net worth is more than you can ever spend in this lifetime. Your spiritual riches are available to be spent now and not stored up for later. You are a spiritual philanthropist who represents Jesus as a generous giver of His foundation of faith. Therefore, be strengthened inwardly by God’s glorious riches, and then prayerfully and aggressively spend His riches on the spiritually poor and needy.

“But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!” (Romans 11:12).

What is my spiritual net worth and how can I spend it on the spiritually needy?

Related Readings: Luke 16:11; Romans 2:4; 9:23; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 4:19

[delacoert]

He heaps humility in great portions upon His people, so that they can in turn walk in humility with one another.

The Lord sends a flood of faith, so the faithful can infuse faith into the faithless.
Indeed, His storehouse of salvation is ready save to the uttermost.

[boatbums]

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (Ephesians 1:18).

Thank you for posting this encouraging thread. When I read that verse above, it was almost like I was reading it for the first time (which it was not) and, like it happens many times, the Lord spoke to me through it. Paul prayed that the "eyes of our hearts" would be enlightened. Imagine that, our heart has eyes. But it is true! What a great way to speak about a spiritual enlightenment that can only be sensed in our hearts - deep inside us - not just mentally. And then not only that we would be enlightened, but that we would be so that we may know the hope to which he has called us, which is the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. We are HIS sanctified/set apart people (for that is what HOLY means) and, as you pointed out, the riches he has given to us the RICHES of our glorious inheritance is not just meant to be something we enjoy for eternity but what we are able - through his working within us - to share with a hurting and perishing world.

I was thinking this week about how in Matthew, Jesus spoke about not storing up riches on earth but in heaven. My husband and I have had a lot of money stolen from us through dishonest brokers and financial advisers and it is hard sometimes to not stay bitter about it. I think about how much easier our life could be if we still had that cushion. But I have to remember that God STILL provides for us. And our treasure is NOT supposed to be stored here on earth because it CAN be stolen or it rusts or it is eaten away. In heaven, those treasures are NOT in jeopardy of any of that and it is there that our hearts should be anyway.

So, thank you again for posting this. It is so important that we keep the BIG picture in focus and that this world is NOT our home. The riches of our glorious inheritance is something we can share with every person God brings into our lives and the riches never run out, his grace is renewed every morning. Praise his wonderful name!