"Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble." Proverbs 15:16

It's splashed everywhere - ads that tantalize the senses that "more is better" and "still more is best." Words like "You deserve it!" and "You owe it to yourself!" cause even firm followers of Jesus to look over their shoulders to see if they are missing out on "the American dream," which is really the massing of material things.

But even as a young believer fresh out of the Marine Corps, I remember meeting some of the wealthier folk and catching the unhappiness in their eyes and the large amount of pills even in their desk drawers. That's why Norma and I are constantly challenged to simplify our lives with "Do we really need this?" And "What do we have that we don't need but someone else does?"

How much better to have less possessions nad more priority time wiht the Lord - to offer our children less toys to entertain but more of our time just train and love them. A wealthy man took his son to spend a couple of nights on a farm with what the rich man  called "poor folks." on their return, he asked his son what he had learned. "I learned we have a pool that reaches our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have servants who serve us, but they have friends to protect them." The father was speechless. The son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Do you have Jesus in your home? Is the Bible an honored friend and prayer a daily privilege Does love fill each room? If so, consider yourself wealthy. Because you are!

My prayer: "Keep my lifestyle simple and my love for You strong, my precious Lord Jesus."

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras