The riches of obedience

I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. — v. 14

Publicly operated lotteries exist in more than 100 countries. In a recent year, lottery ticket sales totaled more than $85 billion in just the US and Canada, only part of the total sales worldwide. The lure of huge jackpots has created a mindset among many that all of life’s problems would be solved “if I won the lottery.”

There’s nothing wrong with wealth itself, but it has the power to deceive us into thinking that money is the answer to all our needs. The psalmist, expressing a different point of view, wrote: “I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. . . . I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word” (Ps. 119:14,16 NLT). This concept of spiritual treasure is focused on obedience to God and walking “in the path of [His] commands” (v.35).

What if we were more excited about following the Lord’s Word than about winning a jackpot worth millions? With the psalmist we might pray, “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word” (vv.36-37).

The riches of obedience — true riches — belong to all who walk with the Lord. — David McCasland

Dear Lord, may I commit each day to standing on the unchanging truth of Your Word and to growing in my relationship with You, the only measure of success in this life and in eternity.

READ: Psalm 119:14,33-40

Success is knowing and loving God.

Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 17-18 and John 3:19-36