Creation Things or Presence of the Creator?

Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH, is the richest person in the world with a net worth of $207 billion. After Arnault is Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

Other billionaires listed are Bezos, Microsoft's Bill Gates, and Oracle's Larry Ellison. The amount of money these men all have together is astronomical!

What could these men do with 200 billion??

My brain struggles to fathom that amount of money.

Say these men invite me to come visit all of them together. Of course, I would accept their invitation and go! Who wouldn’t?? When I get there, they ask me what one thing could they buy for me using their money? What wish or desire could they grant me?

I would ask for something BIG knowing they could make it happen. Don’t tell me you would ask for something like world peace. I wouldn’t believe you. Who wouldn’t ask for “stuff“ - something bigger and better? Most of us would. We are only human, afterall.

Not only could these men make it happen, but it would be petty cash for them to buy me that new luxurious mansion with a guest house and sparkling blue swimming pool. I could ask them to buy me that bright red, sleek, sporty $500,000 car. Or even better to me, buy me an island in the tropics. 😊

I know, without a doubt, these rich people could make it happen. They have the resources to make my worldly desires/wishes come true. They could give me worldly things-lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Why would I be so quick to let them give me the things of the world? Those things WILL pass away. Could it be because my mindset and my belief is that I believe I’m poor?? I need more so that I am not thought of as “poor”?? Will these things satisfy?? The biggest problem is that none of those things will satisfy my desires as much as being in the presence of the Most High God who created those things!

In 2 Chronicles 1, God asks Solomon “what can I give you?” Solomon already had worldly wealth. He had money and “things.” His heart and mindset were in a different place. He answered, “grant me wisdom and knowledge.” He asked for spiritual blessings. God knew his heart and gave him spiritual wisdom and knowledge AND He gave him riches and wealth. (Verse 1:12) God gave him spiritual riches and then some earthly “things.”

While I am busy picking out the one “thing” I want, God is preparing an entire garden of spiritual blessings (the benefits of being surrounded by His presence) for me, BUT He expects me to seek Him and desire Him more than anything else. What “thing” am I desiring more than Him??

The same spiritual wealth, wisdom and riches Solomon received are available to us but from the “unlimited one.” God always has more than enough. He has more than all those rich men put together. His resources have no end. “His power is absolute!” Psalms 147:5

He can make anything possible!! How much greater can God make things happen? He can do more than all these rich people put together.They can give us only material things. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. “ Col. 3:2 God’s greatest desire for us is that we go deeper with Him. He wants to give us unlimited spiritual blessings and limited material things.

Man is LIMITED by his humanity, even though “rich” people seem limitless in our eyes. They are limited! God is NOT!

As I said earlier, I am not able to fathom that amount of money. If I can’t fathom a human’s perspective of a large amount of money, how can I possibly fathom the enormousness of what God CAN do?? He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above ALL that we ask or think.” Eph. 3:20 How gratifying to turn from man’s limitations to a God who has NO limitations! Without spiritual limitations, we could be spiritual quadrillionaires plus! Change your mindset!

Pick the gift you want - created things OR spiritual blessings of the Creator. Pick your source - limited man or an unlimited God! Can you give up one thing that means more than anything else to you?? Following Jesus is serious business and a deep commitment. If we want to gain more of Him, we must give up “things.” To be filled with Him, we must deny ourselves. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 Nothing satisfies better than giving up misguided desires/wishes to the presence of the only One who can truly satisfy! “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soulwith goodness.” Psalms 107:8-9