Rhapsody of Realities remains a life-guide with rich and impactful teachings from God’s Word. Now in its 20th year in print, word-based prayers and confessions, are guaranteed to enrich your walk with the Lord. Millions of copies of Rhapsody of Realities, the best-selling daily devotional and Bible study guide have been distributed in 242 countries, with new language translations being added regularly allowing access to many different parts of the world.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)
God wants our lives to be void of greed and materialism; and not to lust after what belongs to others. Be content with what you have. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dream or desire to attain greater levels of success; rather, it emphasizes being fulfilled and understanding that what you have is enough to get whatever else you want. But the truth is that there isn’t really anything that you don’t have. These verses contain practical instructions for Christian believers (Hebrews 13:1-6), brotherly love, hospitality, contentment, faith and trust in God.
A common theme of biblical morality is the danger of greed. The phrase “money is the root of all evil” is not actually biblical, since wealth can be properly used and enjoyed without sin (Romans 14:14). What the Bible does say, in 1 Timothy 6:10, is that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” That verse notes that unhealthy desire for wealth has led to the ruin of many lives.
“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;” (1 Corinthians 3:21)
The Bible says all things are yours (1 Corinthians 3:21); better than that, Christ is in you, and Christ is everything. So, in Him you have all things. An unhealthy obsession with money is closely related to discontent. This is something the Bible implies using words such as “covet” (Exodus 20:17; James 4:2) and “jealousy” (James 3:16). Rather than being unhappy over what we do not have, Christians ought to be thankful for what we do have and hopeful for what we will one day obtain (Hebrews 11:14–16).
Always be conscious of what you have: the power and glory of Christ in your spirit. Your heart is the habitation of the Lord; the ability of God is operational in you. How could anyone know this and ever be in lack or need or be envious of others? That’s why this knowledge is coming to you now, so you’d be content and confident in who you are, what you have, and all that Christ is to you and in you, and has wrought in your spirit. Christ in you is the hope, the guarantee that everything else you could ever require is already in you. A foundation of this trusting, content, forward-looking perspective is the believer’s relationship with Christ (Hebrews 12:2).
What this means in today’s context
There is no doubt that the time we’re currently living in poses challenges and hardships, but we’re choosing to filter out the fear and continue cultivating the positive. Quarantine is teaching us all to take more time out to focus on love, learning, laughter, self-improvement and memory-making. All these things that money can’t buy. What more can we ask for right now?
A New Kind of Social Studies
This has been a time of growth, learning and an unprecedented lesson in social studies of communities, countries and the entire world. By staying home, we’re protecting our friends, neighbors, extended family and even people we don’t know. In so doing, we are teaching our kids to respect spatial boundaries and navigate the emotional tug of not being able to closely interact with friends and teachers and loved ones. But now, more than ever, we are also reaching out to people in the only ways we can. We’re placing more importance on family, having classroom Zoom meetings and participating in celebrations. We’re learning how to inspire and be inspired, despite the challenges we are facing.
Embrace the Freedom
We have been granted ample time for childhood rites of passage such as learning to ride a bike or play a new game. The pride that comes with finally learning to skip, use scissors, or tie shoes for the very first time gives kids a strong sense of self-awareness and self-confidence that will serve them well in the years to come. Embrace the freedom and don’t fear the fall, the ride will be even better and steadier next time. Maybe that concept is teaching us something about our own perseverance during this quarantine, too.
Join in Prayer
From Monday, May 11th to Wednesday May 13th, Christians from around the world will join the man of God, Reverend (Dr.) Chris Oyakhilome, for a special 3-day Global Prayer and Fasting program. Available for life streaming on all LoveWorld Networks at 7pm GMT+1(2pm EST).