Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Abounding Wealth of Conviction
"[For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One)." (Colossians 2:2 AMP)
People can become financially rich these days uploading videos to the internet. By accident and on purpose, technology and ingenuity create material affluence daily. In today’s economy, restricting the pursuit of wealth to amassing extreme affluence would be an easy but unfulfilling thing to do. Instead of focusing on what not to do, I invite you to join me in my quest. My quest is for the abounding wealth of conviction, blessings of understanding, an intimate relationship with God, and the wisdom to steward the wealth of His glory.
There is a personal wealth that comes from an unshakeable belief in God. After giving my life to God at a young age I assigned greater value to my decisions and conduct because as I read the bible I understood how my actions would impact other people. The major traumas in my life didn’t happen until after I made this decision. Instead of running to God for help, forgiveness and healing, I chose to walk away from my relationship with Him and stopped valuing myself or considering the weight of my actions. The Holy Spirit used every experience and pain, those inflicted by others and those I inflicted on myself, to convict me and build a deeper foundation for my restored relationship with Christ. The wealth of conviction yields a greater return than any stock. It’s return on investment progresses beyond dollars and cents into the immeasurable and eternal accounts all believers have in heaven.
Our relationship with God in the bible is likened to a bride and bridegroom. There is no earthly relationship created by God to be more intimate than that of a husband and wife. When people go into business together they call it “getting into bed with each other.” Business partners who are serious about success prepare for years to make their relationship with each other and the market work. Even investors who are serious about profitable longevity in the market study and stay aware of what is going on in the area they have invested to ensure a return on their investment. To acquire the wealth of becoming “progressively more intimately acquainted with...Christ”, I have to prepare for a lifelong relationship with Him by spending time getting to know Him, by reading the bible and communicating with him through prayer.
The wealth of conviction and becoming progressively more intimate with Christ includes riches greater than money, prestige, houses, trinkets, gadgets and cars. God’s desire is to make us His home. Consistently making my relationship with God my priority brings God glory. Divine wisdom, knowledge and insight acquired during my intimate time with God will equip me to be a good steward of the wealth of His glory.
I don’t have anything against financial independence or material things. Material wealth has a place and use in the kingdom of God. I’d just rather pursue wealth that will last eternally and cannot be stolen, rust or rot away. I pray you’ll join me in my quest for all the abounding wealth!
Scripture Of The Day: [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding..." - Colossians 2:2 (AMP)
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