The Richest People Don't Live Like You'd Expect

 A preview of July's email-only article.

David Suarez

The richest people are those who own the nicest cars, homes, and jewelry, right?

No, not if you ask King Solomon.

Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about the key to true riches according to Proverbs and Jesus. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below.

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Despite owning mansions and flashy cars, a Nicholas Cage or a Burt Reynolds might be broker than you are.

Solomon observed this tendency in the book of Proverbs. He wrote, "One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth" (Prov. 13:7).

On a smaller scale, you probably have neighbors who buy fancier cars than they can afford to impress those in their social circle. You might have co-workers who carry expensive purses so they appear wealthy. But look at their balance sheets, and you'll see they are worth more dead than alive.

Materially speaking, of course.

Maybe you're guilty of pretending to be rich too. I know I've done so under social pressure to try to fit in or with the desire for respect I haven't earned.

But Solomon's proverb has a spiritual corollary.

 
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Yes, Rest for the Weary

When all you want is a little relief.

Matthew Henry

 

IF YOU'VE LIVED LONG ENOUGH, you've endured periods of unrest in your life.

These seasons come in many forms, but I suspect they affect us all. Some might have to deal with illness, either chronic or acute. Some might be struggling with stress from work keeping them up at night. Still others might just have more to do than they have time to accomplish. These are just a few examples.

Through these seasons it can be difficult to carry on. All we want is some relief—rest from the chaos. It's only by the hope of rest that we can continue.

If I can just make it until 5:00 PM, then I can rest.

If I can survive this semester, I'll be okay.

If I can endure for seven days, this infection will be gone.

Doctors love to prescribe fluids and rest for patients dealing with a variety of illnesses. And, of course, this is sound advice. But what if sleeping provides no rest at all?

Life's Too Short to Give God the Silent Treatment

 A preview of June's email-only article.

P O W L Y

Have you ever been angry with God?

If so, how did you respond? Did you turn your back on him? Or petition him?

Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about how we should respond to God when our emotions run high. If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below. (If you're already on the list, check your email.)

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HAVE YOU EVER BEEN MAD at God? It's kind of a weird phenomenon—to be angry with a deity—but I know it's not uncommon. I've had multiple people tell me they have beef with the Almighty. 

Often these strong emotions come in response to a tragedy or an unjust situation, those in which one is left asking where God was or why he didn't prevent the disaster. 

These emotions are real. They are valid. Don't forget we are made in God's image and that God has emotions. He became angry with Moses when Moses tried to reject his proposal to save the Israelites. Psalm 78 tells us God grieved the sin of Israel in the wilderness. Hebrews tells us God is pleased by our faith. 

Nevertheless we must be careful what we do with those emotions. How we respond can be helpful or it can be unproductive (and even sinful).

 
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Remember, the Snake Has Already Been Bruised

 An encouragement for those in anguish.

Timothy Dykes

 

THE BIBLE DEDICATES a healthy percentage of its words to content that's downright disgusting. Think about driving a tent peg through a man's temple or losing a sword in the belly of an obese king.

The book of Job is full of nastiness too as a result of the infirmities that befell him. One such verse is  Job 7:5 in which Job says, "My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh."

Yummy!

Some commentators like Charles Ellicott and Albert Barnes suggest Job suffered from a parasite called lymphatic filariasis, a disease transmitted by mosquitos infected with a certain type of roundworm. When the larvae enter the bloodstream they mature and reproduce, flooding the lymph system.

The Power of a Generous Heart

A preview of May's email-only article.

Ashley Green

The Bible has quite a bit to say about generosity.

And, while this shouldn't be your primary motivation, did you know that Proverbs suggests some pretty cool things will happen to you when you give freely?

Every month I publish an exclusive article for my email subscribers, and this month we're talking about prosperity, generosity, and obesity. (Yes, you read that right.) If you'd like instant, free access, fill out the form below.

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The KJV renders Proverbs 11:25 as, "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."

It may be weird to think that getting fat is a reward for liberality; in the first world, we don't value fat. In fact, most everyone is obsessed with skinniness. Why?

Because in affluent cultures, it's easy to get fat.

McDonald's occupies a corner at every busy intersection, and our supermarkets have entire aisles dedicated to ice cream, cookies, and chips.

Because of this, slender figures are rarer. They are badges of youthfulness and sex appeal. Not so in other eras of history.

 
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