Matthew 5:3
Saints are persons, first of all, who live their lives trusting nothing other than God.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit," said Jesus, "for theirs is the kingdom of God." Now, Jesus isn't extolling the virtues of poverty. Many of us can identify with the couple who said they saved money by going over their household budget every single night. Someone asked, "How does that save you money?" They responded, "By the time we make any sense of our situation, it's too late to go out and spend anything."
Jesus is not extolling the virtues of poverty. He is extolling the virtues of faith in God. God is our ultimate source of security. We think that if we have enough money, enough land, or enough possessions, we will be in control of our lives. We will be protected. We will have security. People who experienced floods in the Midwest this summer know that control is an illusion. People who have experienced devastating illness know that in this world there is no security. There are times when only faith in God will pull you through.
A young pastor tells about the most devastating event of his life: "the death of his mother." At first, his mother complained of pain in her side. The pain did not go away. She went to the doctor, but nothing could be found. A few weeks later, a CAT scan revealed that her entire colon and liver were covered with cancer. Four months later, his mother died with her entire family gathered around the bed as she breathed her last.
His mother was a beautiful person, this pastor writes, because of her deep faith in God and her commitment to her family. She never complained about her pain or about her life being cut short at the age of forty-nine. Throughout her suffering, his mother would say, "I thank God for my family and my life." Even though she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, his mother radiated the joy that comes from placing her total trust in God. Each morning, her husband would say to her, "This is the day which the Lord has made!" And courageously, she would respond, "Let us rejoice and be glad in it." That is saint-like faith: living life trusting nothing other than God.
Questions to Ponder
Who do you trust in?
Is God the ultimate source of your security?
Are we called to trust and obey?
In His Service,
Terry Phillips
