Isaiah 26:10

"Let grace be shown to the wicked, Yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, And will not behold the majesty of the LORD." Isaiah 26:10

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy holiday, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights." Age 52 "I've learned that kids need hugs more than they need things." Age 43 "I've learned that the smart husband knows that the wooing never stops." Age 59 "I've learned that having football games in the house isn't a good idea." Age 9 You guessed it. The omplete Live and Learn and Pass It On.

I've learned that money doesn't buy happiness. Have you ever been rich? I mean filthy rich? Most of us haven't. But most of us know of people who have a lot more than we do. And, unless they are firm believers in Jesus Christ, they are no happier than we are, and most of them are downright miserable. The husbands work long hours to get richer. The wife is unfulfilled in all of her "charity work." The kids don't know what a parent is, and they are spoiled rotten because daddy tries to buy their love with things instead of quality time.

Now compare that scenario with the poor but believing people you know. Many of them have found contentment in what they have. It may not be much, and what they have is not from the best stores, but it is theirs. They have earned it, and they are happy to have what they possess. You will also find that they are the ones most willing to share what they have, especially their faith in Jesus. They are the ones who open their doors to those in need of a place to stay or a humble but nutritious meal. They are the ones most likely to give of their poverty to the work of God. They are the tithers, the workers, and the faithful in all things.

I've learned that all generalities are false, including this one and the one above. We probably all know rich people who are genuinely happy. And some of them may not even be Christians. The latter is rare, and the former is scarce. Jesus didn't say, "It is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle," just to pass the time of day. He knows that a rich man is often devoured with the desire to become richer, even those who sit in a pew on a regular basis and put hefty checks in the offering plate. Likewise, he lifted up the widow and her two pennies for the same reason. He found that the poor were indeed the salt of the earth. They give out of their poverty what the rich will not give out of their abundance.

I've learned that God's blessings for my generosity are not always "gifts-in-kind. When Carmel and I began to tithe on a consistent basis (shortly after we were married). We had good health we had no medical insurance. It was sales at the grocery storeo when we could not have afforded food any other way. It was someone buying me shoes when I did not have money to buy them myself. It was a miraculous healing when the doctor said surgery was essential. God provides in mysterious ways.

That's what I have learned so far. Amen and Amen.