Thurs., 3/23/17 Devotion (Prov. 10:22)

Today's encouragement comes from Proverbs 10:22, where we read these words:

"The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it."

It has been well-said that wealth is not the goal of wisdom, but that it some-times is the result of it (wisdom). When God chooses to bestow wealth (of whatever sort) on His churchmen there is a unique and singular blessing that attends it—and that is, that He "adds no sorrow with it."

The world's "wealth" is always, in every single case, accompanied with "sor-row," or trouble. Other sinners are clamoring to take it away from them; it causes them to lose sleep; and their minds are consumed with it (wealth). But not so with the wealth of Christ—it comes to His church without sorrow. Why is this? Partly because the faithful believer is just as happy to have it, or not to have it. He or she is indifferent to it. And why? Because the believer knows that Jesus alone is his (or her) only true and abiding wealth.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The church, in all the works of mercy, owns the hand of God.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]