When we were little heaven was all about things. Mansions, streets of gold, tame lions and tigers were the big thing. As Paul says in I Corinthians 13 when I was a child I thought as a child. But now that I am a man all those things seem very unnecessary. Heaven is about family. Heaven is about having one’s loved ones safe and having eternity to grow, intellectually, spiritually and creatively. If I were given that I would be happy in a one room wooden shack with just one dog as my only animal. Actually I could do without the dog but it would be a nice touch.
Being rich is having enough. The cup running over really isn’t necessary. The widow’s barrel that never went empty was being rich. The little boy’s basket of bread and fish was being rich. The widow of Nain getting her son back was being rich. Even though Martha and Mary lived in the rich little town of Bethany I’m sure that didn’t matter when Lazarus died. Then Jesus came.
Recently there has been a plethora of articles questioning the value of a college education. If you are talking about the availability of job opportunities and the student loan debt, the value of a college education is questionable. If one talks about exposure to ideas, great literature, a greater understanding of history, a vaster comprehension of human development, a broader grasp of the sciences and more discernment of human behavior then the question really is mute.
For Christians being rich is being forgiven, having an assurance of being once again with loved ones who are waiting for the resurrection and knowing that our future has no end because we are loved by the One who made it all.
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 25, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org