Riches in Glory - Pt 1

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV).

President Theodore Roosevelt said, “Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood—the virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.” Roosevelt may have been right in more ways than we care to admit. The temptation of our culture in the last century has been to “baptize” capitalism. It leads to a misplaced trust in material things rather than the true riches of the spiritual life. I like the way one poet reminds us of the cost of such misplaced focus in life: Money will buy a bed, but not sleep; Books, but not brains; Food, but not appetite; Finery, but not beauty; A house, but not a home; Medicine, but not health; Luxuries, but not culture; Amusements, but not happiness; Religion, but not salvation; and, A passport to everywhere but heaven! As Christians we are rich. Paul makes it very clear in our text today that we have been given the riches of his glorious inheritance. We cannot make light of this incredible truth. It is a foundation of the apostle’s prayer life for those whom he has written to in the churches scattered across Asia Minor (cf. Philippians 1:9-11; and Colossians 1:9-12). In the next few days we will explore what that means practically in our lives. Today, begin to celebrate the wonder of the wealth God has given us through his grace in Christ.