Romans 10:33 (NASB)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Riches
When we think of riches, we might think of a billionaire, such as Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. Maybe, we think of winning the lottery, or having a really big house and an expensive car. What if you owned everything in the world? Would that be enough? This is what Jesus said:
Matthew 16:26 (NASB)
26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Soul
So, it seems that our eternal souls are each worth more than everything in the whole world. That’s why we might talk about someone who “sold their soul” for fame and glory. At the end of this life, we will all come to the conclusion that none of it really mattered. Our souls are more valuable than all of it.
What does God (the One Who created everything and is smarter than anyone else) consider valuable?
Treasure
Matthew 13:45-46 (NASB)
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
This merchant knew the real value of pearls, and he knew he wanted this one, unique, incredible pearl. He had never seen anything like it before; it was spectacular. He valued this pearl more than anything else he had ever seen. Perhaps another person, who did not understand the value of pearls, would not have appreciated this particular one, but he did.
There is an expression, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Grammatically, this phrase sounds somewhat silly, but it means that there are subjects that are so foreign to us that we don’t even know what questions to ask.
For example, if you wanted to build a ship to take you to Mars, would you know where to find the materials to make the outside of the ship, and how to test them? Would you know how to design the spacesuits? How much thrust would each rocket engine need? How much fuel would you need? After you answer all of these questions, you would realize you need to start over and examine everything again, many times.
Wisdom
Proverbs 8:10-11 (NASB)
10 “Take my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
11 “For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
In the Bible, the word wisdom can mean either the accumulation of knowledge or knowing how to use that knowledge; we need both. Knowledge (facts) without wisdom (knowing how to use those facts) is wasted.
James 2:19 (NASB)
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Acknowledging the fact that God exists means very little, unless you do something about it — the right thing. James says that the demons know that God is real, but that doesn’t mean that they serve Him. They have the facts of God’s existence and His nature, but they are not willing to humble themselves, follow Him, trust Him, and be godly servants.
The Kingdom of Heaven
Godly wisdom is precious — more valuable than most of what we value — but what does God value?
Matthew 4:17 (NASB)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus preached that the “kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He spoke of many things, but it all revolved around the kingdom of heaven. Some people think that Christians have to give up all the “fun” things in life. In reality, that’s like saying that in order to have fun, I need to give up hitting myself or eating poison. Just because someone else says that something is fun doesn’t mean that it is good for me — or even fun, for that matter.
Abundant Life
John 10:10 (NASB)
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
It’s true that heaven is a wonderful place, but Jesus said that we didn’t have to wait for heaven to experience an abundant life. What He has given us in this life is incredible.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NASB)
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
God’s Holy Spirit, the third Person of the trinity, has been given to us as a pledge, a down payment of what God has for us. Who is the Holy Spirit, and how does He help us?
Power of God
Romans 8:11 (NASB)
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
This same Holy Spirit Who was given to us is the One Who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus had been tortured, crucified, then laid in a tomb for three days. His body was being guarded by Roman soldiers. Nothing could stop God’s plan, though. His unlimited power gave life to what was lifeless. Jesus was now in His eternal, glorified body. Nothing that Satan tried could possibly succeed. God’s ways never fail.
Romans 8:31-32 (NASB)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
We go through trials in this life, but compared to the power of God, they are all nothing. We have the same unlimited, eternal power of God’s Holy Spirit in our corner.
Comfort of God
John 14:26 (NASB)
26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
The word translated “Helper” here means “someone called alongside to help.” This could just as easily be translated attorney, doctor, or friend. Jesus could not possibly fulfill His mission of being with all of us, all the time, in this life, if He had stayed as a man. The Holy Spirit can be with all of us, all the time. He can help us, comfort us, remind us of the words of Jesus, and be with us all the time.
We never have to feel alone, because we never are. We never have to worry, if we are in His hands. His love, power, and grace have no limits.
Future Riches
Revelation 21:10-11, 18, 22-23 (NASB)
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
What we have waiting for us is amazing, but what God has given us now is even more amazing. He has given us Himself — salvation, comfort, friendship. God’s riches are incredible, eternal, and here for us now.
Don’t wait; reach out to Him today.
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