James W. Moore
Rich in the ThingsThat Countthe Most
DIMENSIONS
FOR LIVING
NASHVILLE
RICH IN THE THINGS THAT COUNT THE MOST
Copyright © 2006 by Dimensions for Living
All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to Dimensions for Living, P.O. Box 801, 201 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37202-0801; or to [email protected].
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Moore, James W. (James Wendell), 1938-
Rich in the things that count the most / James W. Moore.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-687-49010-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Christian life—Methodist authors. I. Title.
BV4501.3.M6643 2006
248.4—dc22
2006015138
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations noted KJV are from the King James or Authorized Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations noted RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
For June, Jodi, Danny, Sarah, Paul, Jeff, Claire, Dawson, Daniel, Lily, and Kirby . . . who know what it means to be rich in the things that count the most.
Contents
Introduction
Rich in the Things That Count the Most
1. Rich in the Scriptures
What the Bible Teaches Us
2. Rich in Soul
The Signs of a Healthy Spirit
3. Rich in Church
What I Love about the Church
4. Rich in the Power of Life-Changing Words
The Sacred Power of Words
5. Rich in Christian Freedom
Trapped in a Prison of Our Own Making
6. Rich in Gratitude
Jesus and Zacchaeus
7. Rich in Generosity
The Widow's Gift
8. Rich in Friendship
The Rooftop Friends
9. Rich in Real Life
I Hope You Live All of Your Life
10. Rich in "Because Of" Faith
Do You Have an "In Order To" Faith or a "Because Of" Faith?
11. Rich in Mind, Body, and Spirit
Jesus Increased in Wisdom and in Stature and in
Favor with God and People
12. Rich in the Risen Christ
When the Risen Christ Comes Looking for Us
13. Rich in Easter Faith
Jesus and Mary Magdalene
14. Rich in Commitment to Christ
Jesus and Bartimaeus
Suggestions for Leading a Study
by John D. Schroeder
Introduction
Rich in the Things That Count the Most
Scripture: Luke 19:1-10
In almost every healthy family, the children, as they grow older, like to tease their parents (especially their dads) about some funny moment from the past. The moment our children most like to tease me about happened when our daughter, Jodi, was sixteen years old. Her younger brother, Jeff, was thirteen at the time. They, grinning mischievously, came into the den of our home one evening to tell me that one of their friends named Jennifer had just turned sixteen and her dad had given her a brand new red sports car for her birthday. They both thought that this was a great idea, a great gesture on Jennifer's dad's part. They thought that Jodi, who had just turned sixteen a few days before, would be glad to receive a brand new red sports car from her dad anytime now and that Jeff would like one also when he reached sixteen years of age.
I said, "Well, let me explain that. Jennifer's father is a very successful oil man, one of the wealthiest men in town. He could easily afford a brand new sports car for his daughter, and I know that we are all happy for them and their good fortune. However, I am a Methodist minister with a Methodist minister's salary. The church has been wonderful to us, but the truth is we can't afford a brand new car right now."
Jeff, empathizing with his big sister, spoke for both of them, expressing their disappointment. He said, "Rats!" (That's about as strong as it gets in a parsonage.) He said, "Rats! I wish we were rich!" And I said, "We are rich. We are rich in the things that count the most! We have love, we have faith, we have the church, and we have one another. Those are the things in life that really matter. We can't afford a sports car right now, but we are rich in the things that count the most."
Now, Jodi and Jeff knew that and really understood that deep down inside. They knew coming in that night that the chances of a new car were slim to none. But over the years and up to the present moment, they have had such fun teasing me about