Thanksgiving: For Richer or Poorer - Crosswalk the Devotional - November 28

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Thanksgiving: For Richer or Poorer By Shawn McEvoy "Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them." - [James 1:9]( The rich eat ham, The poor eat tuna. Doesn't take as long to cook, So we eat soona. --Jay Henze The words of that heretofore unknown poem were uttered by my lifelong best friend sometime around our senior year of high school. He conjured it out of thin air while I was spending the night at his house. It was the result of one of those "I'm so tired I'm laughing at anything" sessions you'd often experience with close friends around midnight. It was also the result of Jay's enduring awareness of the socio-economic differences between himself and many of his friends, like me, from the affluent north side of town. So whenever I think of ham, tuna, or Jay, I often think of richness and poorness as well. Recently, thanks to a fantastic tour around the Missionary Learning Center, I was thinking about missions and outreach. It struck me as interesting that whenever a mission of mercy or evangelism is commissioned, it tends to be to an area where there is a high concentration of poverty, whether it's to India, Mexico, or inner-city Philadelphia. Well, yes, as it should be. After all, Christ commanded us, if we loved Him, to tend to His lambs ([John 21:15-17](). [James 2:15-16]( admonishes us not to ignore those in need of food or clothing. Paul and the Apostles started churches among those who were poor ([Acts 9:36](; [10:4](). Poverty was crippling in the time of Christ and so it continues to be now. The very fact that Jay had a roof over his head and the fish he despised came in a can rather than him having to catch it made him one of the wealthiest persons on the planet. So the holidays are certainly a time to think about - nay, physically assist - those less fortunate than ourselves ([2 Corinthians 9:9](). Then again, are we missing something? Consider [James 1:9]( - "Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them." There are lots of ways to be poor, and Jesus told us they brought about blessing in the long run ([Matthew 5:3-12](). Those poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Those mourning loved ones will be comforted. Those who make peace rather than seeking their own profit will be called sons of God, Who chose the poor of this world to be rich in [faith]( ([James 2:5](). [2 Corinthians 6:10]( states: "Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything." And what about the rich? That's the hard part, literally. Jesus said it's very difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who love their life too much find it hard to lose it. James reminds us it's the rich who "oppress us and drag us into court, blaspheming the fair name by which we've been called ([James 2:6-7]( The word "miserable" has at its root the word "miser." The love of money isn't just the source of evil, but also of depression and dissatisfaction. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( You May Also Like: [9 Powerful Reasons Why "No" Is a Beautiful Word]( Kevin Harney Learning to say a confident, mission-focused "no" is a powerfully positive thing. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [30 Best Thanksgiving Prayers to Inspire Gratitude and Give Thanks for Blessings]( Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff What if we spent time each day in giving thanks and prayer? How could God grow out faith and trust if we lived a life of thanks through all seasons and not just Thanksgiving time? [CONTINUE READING →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe From This Email]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2020 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](