The Testimony of Dr. Suess
Being Rich
By Terrence Clark
Not only do testimonies communicate faith in God, they are legal evidence. Meaning, they are title proof that God is who He is and His Word is true in each of his children’s of life. This witness becomes a monument of truth, and a weapon of light, by which our common enemy is exposed and his defeat is seen. Revelations 12:11 declares that by these personal triumphs, the family of God overcomes Satan the adversary.
Many times, we base our testimony on a great miracle, a manifested healing, or financial increase, a pleasurable gift, or simply an answer to a long attended prayer. Jesus told the rejoicing disciples who had been casting out demons in his name that their joy should rather be founded in their eternal security (Luke 10:17-20) One of the churches I attend has testimonial service before praise & worship service. Although there are usually eager attesting believers, there are yet a few dry moments. Although close, everyone doesn’t stand and share. One recent Sunday, at my turn, the Holy Ghost prompted me to share. I spoke from the Spirit, speaking what I heard. I quoted Dr. Suess---Yes, Dr. Suess---Theodor Suess Giesel, quoting from his book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas “Perhaps Christmas is not things bought from the store. Perhaps Christmas is something more.” |
After the reference, I continued.
Wednesday night’s service before was primarily prayer and intercession. The last portion of petition and thanks giving was for material needs and trusting God in the area of Christian life. The pastor decreed at the end that everyone in attendance was going to have a testimony Sunday morning---pointing to a financial manifestation. So four days later, at 10:15, Sister Gretchen stood up first and told how she was prompted to give a homeless man a few dollars. Other testimonies followed with most sharing how they were led to give something away during the week---money, a word. Two church sisters led a stranger to the Lord in a parking lot. Someone took time out of their schedule to greet & bless patrons going in and out of a local convenience store. The Holy Spirit fixed me to Gretchen’s words. “I gave the few dollars. It was a lot to me. I’m not rich.” Now the Holy Spirits prompted again. Bringing to my attention 1 Timothy 6:18--- which I didn’t recall the verse location until later. Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 19 By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well. ----1 Timothy 6:187---19 TLB Although the position of being rich may be based on the accumulation of wealth, the act of being rich is the ability to distribute without fear of lost what God has entrusted. It’s being the resource at the time of the need. Statistics show that many who win the lottery, lose it quickly, proving being rich is more a state of mind (or thinking) than the manifestation at hand. |
Notes:
“To someone who has nothing, the poor seem rich.”--TGC The money changers in the temple had various reasons for converting foreign currency into temple money. Despite the reasons, and whereas the intent was good, they had made the practice into a business. They had become consumed by it to the point of hindering the temple’s purpose of being a house of prayer and particularly to--- all nations. (Mark 11:15-17) Perhaps the real temple conversion is to convert the value of salvation into that form exchange that without lack reaches all men. |
The story, of the rich man and Lazarus, contrast two men. The rich man is as he is (interestingly we don’t know his name). Lazarus is dirt poor. They both succumb to the same end----they die. But, beyond the end lays the difference. The rich man is demoted to Hell and Lazarus is promoted to Abraham bosom (a pre-Calvary type of heaven).
Expressly, what we know of God and His Word. The rich man is not in Hell because he was materially wealthy, no more than Lazarus was in Heaven because he was destitute. Faith in God and His Word (in the cross of Jesus) for salvation are the only way to eternal life. And, before the cross, faith in God the Lord as Savior, in the hope of his promise, still pointed to the blood of the Lamb. The reference here is the value of true wealth, the ability to give, and trusting God---not material things. The rich man, who incidentally is still called the rich man, is in lack asking God to have Lazarus, who was earthly poor, to give something to him. Respectively, Lazarus is known by name.
Again, the qualification of being wealthy is not substantiated by accumulated stuff, it is determined by your ability and willingness to give. Giving a dollar, shoes, some food, or a bottle of water to someone who doesn’t have, places the giver into the rich man seat.
Cup half full or half empty?---may be the proverbial question. The solid solution is knowing the source---regardless. Psalms 16:5 says The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Some oppose the so named “prosperity message”. However Luke 6:38 has prosperity written all over it. When people take up the occupation of giving, the undeniable promise of God is definitely engaged for a pay day, or then the Savior would have lied.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
The Holy Spirit crossed my Dr. Suess quote with Dr. Jesus. “Perhaps being rich in Christ is not testifying of what you got from the store. Maybe wealth in Christ is something so much more.”
Expressly, what we know of God and His Word. The rich man is not in Hell because he was materially wealthy, no more than Lazarus was in Heaven because he was destitute. Faith in God and His Word (in the cross of Jesus) for salvation are the only way to eternal life. And, before the cross, faith in God the Lord as Savior, in the hope of his promise, still pointed to the blood of the Lamb. The reference here is the value of true wealth, the ability to give, and trusting God---not material things. The rich man, who incidentally is still called the rich man, is in lack asking God to have Lazarus, who was earthly poor, to give something to him. Respectively, Lazarus is known by name.
Again, the qualification of being wealthy is not substantiated by accumulated stuff, it is determined by your ability and willingness to give. Giving a dollar, shoes, some food, or a bottle of water to someone who doesn’t have, places the giver into the rich man seat.
Cup half full or half empty?---may be the proverbial question. The solid solution is knowing the source---regardless. Psalms 16:5 says The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Some oppose the so named “prosperity message”. However Luke 6:38 has prosperity written all over it. When people take up the occupation of giving, the undeniable promise of God is definitely engaged for a pay day, or then the Savior would have lied.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38
The Holy Spirit crossed my Dr. Suess quote with Dr. Jesus. “Perhaps being rich in Christ is not testifying of what you got from the store. Maybe wealth in Christ is something so much more.”