[Pastor Ralph]

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

[Ken7]

I guess many including me do not ponder this question enough. I am too busy 'doing' and not busy enough 'being' - probably. Great question also, tells me that we saints are dysfunctional – just like families. This is tough talk – but there is truth in it for sure.

LORD, we need to Love you and each other more …and begin to change this world!

[Jezemeg]

I don't think I would bother much with the news that I would inherit such a vast sum. After all, only God knows what will happen in the future, if one were to waste too much time making plans etc, it would take away from the time available for you to make actual changes in the lives of others. If it should happen that I did indeed inherit such a vast sum, then I would likely follow the same course as in the past when I've inherited money, I use it to help improve the lives of others, not 'wasting' it as I'm often accused of doing, but certainly not hoarding it in the hopes of getting more and more. What use is earthly wealth when one is called Home? Far better that money be used for the betterment of society.

Our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence should have the effect of making us less concerned about salting away money 'just in case'. The reality is that we in the western world are unlikely to find ourselves completely without resources. I do street ministry and I rarely see a case where someone has absolutely nothing, and on the rare occasion when I do, then I find that the street folk band together to help their own. I am constantly astounded at the level of generosity amongst those with the least, while those with adequate wealth are hesitant to share even their unwanted property.

There is nothing wrong with Christians being financially well off, the problems arise when they begin to turn their focus from God and place it instead on increasing their financial well being, caring more for adding to their wealth than in using it to assist in the care of others. Just as Christians who are wealthy are not at fault, neither are those Christians who have little; we have all been given gifts by God and the ability to work in different ways within the Body. Money should not become a god, money can and should be used for the benefit of all, without ambition for public recognition and acclaim.

[Helenmm]

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

What a question! It requires deep honesty. I'm not sure I know the answer right now. I think I would want to work fairly hard so that I was up to handling the money when it came. It's a gift that someone else workded hard for, so it has to be treated with honour and respect. They say those who win lotteries usually end up spending it quickly and back where they started from. I'd need to be much wiser than that, I think it would give me confidence to work hard now at learning how to handle money, how to invest etc so that I'd have a long term benefit. I also think it would add value to my self-esteem, that someone thought so much of me that they had set this up. I'd walk taller and think better of myself, that someone valued me. Also I'd have some plans in mind about how it would be disposed of and used. There'd be gifts from me in certain areas, of a certain percentage, and I'd plan that well and look forward to that aspect immensely.

How would it temper present day concerns? I just think I'd have greater confidence because of the value placed in me, and would therefore handle my affairs better.

As for the Christian family, I think it draws us closer together, because we are all highly valued and all recipients of our Father's benefits, one no less than the others I walk tall in the family because God loves me every bit as much as he loves them. I honour them because God loves every one of them every bit as much as he loves me. I think it creates a mutual honouring (unity?)

[charisbarak]

It is very hard to know what I would do if I had an inheritance coming in a few years. Truthfully, I would wonder if I would even be alive to receive it! I guess I would start thinking about what I would do with it. It would be such a joy to be able to provide more missionary support and perhaps supporting more orphans.

My expectation of inheritance in God's presence should make my problems in this life seem alot smaller. I am tempted to focus on those problems & not keep looking up!

We should be sharing our lives with our Christian "forever" family. We should study together, pray together, weep together, celebrate together and support each other!

[PCHRIS]

wow heres a question I struggle to answer. Honestly I would be fighting the temptaion to set up my children comfortably and pay off all our debts first. But I know, firstly, this inheritance should go towards different ministries and help those in greater need. As Helenm said most lottery winners end up actually worse off 2-3 years down the track because they have never had so much money and it goes to their heads.

Knowing the eternal treasures that I am storing in heaven far outweigh the earthly possessions I desire.
The Word says how God will provide for our every need so I trust Him for everthing.

Unfortunately most families have their squabbles, even church families, the good news is that we can come together and pray and have reconcilliation knowing we come together, as a body with Christ as the head, for the one common good of proclaiming the Gospel, encouraging and edifying each other. Praise the Lord!!

[pickledilly]

The possibility of inheriting such an amount of money is so far out of my realm of comprehension that I really can't imagine it, but I get the question. The spiritual inheritance that God has promised to me (us) should influence the way life is lived and what we set our hopes on. First, I have to truly believe God is telling the truth, and then I have to receive and accept that promise as my own. While fully living in the present, I've been called to maintain an expectant awareness of eternity that should influence my priorities. My present-day concerns, as difficult as any of them might be, are really nothing in the grand scheme of things. I am journeying through an imperfect world in an imperfect body with a host of other imperfect people on the way to join my Father and be united with my Bridegroom in the perfection of my true home in heaven. I'm reminded of the little phrase, "This, too, shall pass." Life on earth is not all there is. Eternity is much, much more (what an understatement!).

The LORD has promised this same inheritance to every other believer that has, does, and will exist. We have a common bond that should join us together with ties of love. When we become believers our spirit gets saved, but not our flesh; many annoying habits and mindsets remain that cause friction, hurts, and disagreements. But even if you don't really like someone, you can treat that person with love. As much as possible, you can be a peacemaker attempting to preserve unity. You can see others through the eyes of Christ as valued and treasured. And you can remember that your own flesh is still causing someone else problems, too! My main point here is that we all share equally in the promises of God's inheritance because we're all equally loved and redeemed, and we should value each other just as God values each of us. There's no place for pride or selfishness in our dealings with each other.

[Eudora]

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now?

Funny how God is right on time and never late! Just today I had a discussion somewhat related to money. I have lived with out most of my life and been happy with what I have. Money has never been a root of any contention for me so I know I wouldn’t sell my soul for 10 million, that is certain. I have already guaranteed my soul to Jesus Christ and I am receiving dividends that are so awesome.

We have to be smart with money because putting money into the wrong system, puts it into the hands of satan. When we place our monies into the hands of God’s system, He can multiply like no bodies business. We lack for nothing. God is our provider and we really do take nothing material from this world, sinner or saint. We are so much better off placing our monies and faith into the Kingdom of God.

But alas, when we give to the poor while here on earth, we are blessed with treasure in heaven. No, it would not affect my life now or then. Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Well my expectation of inheritance in God’s presence is that all of my loved ones are all around me and just like Moses and Enoch were recognized on the mount of transfiguration and Jesus at dissension, I expect that this is my true inheritance, that I would recognize everyone I have ever met and came in contact with.

Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them? No different now as when we are with The Lord. Brotherly and sisterly and Christ like love, should always be our fellowship.

In early September, I was watching TBN and the “Macedonia Calls” was on to raise monies for opportunities to open a door in China, a new network for Iran in the Farsi language, a new transmitter tube in Uganda, a whole new satellite uplink in Manila and on and on. The minister who was called in that hour to minister to hearts spoke every word into my heart. EVERY WORD. I don’t have a job and I have no income other than my husbands and I can’t very well steal from him to give to God, that just wouldn’t be honored.

I prayed and shared with Jesus that I don’t have anything and no way to get anything but that I would pray for TBN. Afterwards I was thinking about how in the beginning of time, God took a big mass of nothing and said, “Let there be light” and there was light. He does this kinda thing every day in us so I know that He can do this with what I have, which is nothing and no income.

I went to my computer and pledged a certain amount for the next 12 months. I cried after I did this because I was so moved in my spirit and overwhelmed by faith in God to call me in to a job each month for the next 12 months to gain that amount to fulfill my pledge of faith in Him.

I just sent in my first pledge yesterday because God got me a job for two days and two nights with a 98 year old lady. I can hardly wait for each month to come so I can see where my new employer, Father God, will send me next. God is so good!

[Stan]

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

I would hope not at this late hour in my life I want to think it wouldn't but, only the real situation would bring the truth to light. I want to be like Paul happy in all circumstances not the artificual ones of this life but the true grace only a love for Christ brings.

It should make us more determined to reach the goal set for us by Christ living to love one another and serve God daily, or as Paul put strive for the mark of a higher calling.

Our fellowship with the saints is the one prepared for us by God and laid out in his plan for our life to seek to give Him all praise and glory. To become a part of the body of Christ the church making our lives symbols for other to follow giving them hope for eternal life with the saints in the presence of the Father.

[janet]

Pastor Ralph, on Jul 23 2006, 07:19 PM, said:

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

Well I guess it would affect my life now in that I would anxiously be awaiting the day I get the inheritance, provided I lived to receive it.(the $10 million) The expectation of an inheritance in God's presenece temper my present day concerns in that I know it will come to past , not might come. My present day concern would be to live according to his instructions, so as never do anything that would cause me to walk away from my inheritance from him. God will not force us to serve him he gives all of us a free will to choice. How will other know that we are christians? When we have love for one another. Anyone can claim to be a Christian. We should show it through our action. We as christians much walk the talk. By doing this we are letting Christ be our example.

[JustJeff]

$10 mil, in a few years? I'm going to run down to the nearest bank and get a line of credit, and spend, spend, spend! I'd like to think that I'd give it all to my ministry but I fear that I am still very weak in the flesh and the flesh is terribly anxious to be pleased. Sad truth as I feel very short sighted when I do walk in the flesh.
On the other hand, to walk in the Spirit gives me pause to reflect on my motives and moves knowing that the Lord has my path planned out and that what I experience today is merely preparation for better things tomorrow. He allows me to meditate on my actions, knowing that each effects my relationship and future with Him.
Ours is a monastic life, though an inner city mission, each of us giving ourselves entirely to the Lord and His work. As such, we do everything together 27/7 and as each of us is at a different stage of growth, different ages, races and places of origin, we go through many changes together and oftentimes disagreements. We have learned that we need to bear one another's burdens, display compassion and patience and let the love of the Holy Spirit guide our lives. The conclusion being that if we can't get along down here, how are we going to get along for eternity?

[Huby]

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Pastor Ralph, on Jul 23 2006, 07:19 PM, said:

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

Thank you very much for putting a question such as this -
I really did not think of life in Christ this way before. I guess whatever situation we are in -specially difficult ones - we must think it is temporary and we are going to be rich beyond our thinking/understanding someday with Christ.

How we should live together with those who will share this blessing with us one day?
I sometimes find it difficult to understand fellow beleivers attitudes ( though I feel guilty and repent when I think like this - and try to see the plank in my eye) It is difficult in an earthly manner
- but at a seminar recently Bill Crowder of RBC said "the more we grow closer to Christ - the clearer we will see our sins and not the faults of others"

[Diane44]

Pastor Ralph, on Jul 23 2006, 09:19 PM, said:

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

Yes it would affect my life. Of course, any financial worries would disapper. I would be thinking no problem, I'm getting 10 million soon. Such as, we should continue to remind ourselves that we are indeed heirs to a greater inheritance through Jesus shed blood. I suppose we shouldn't sweat the small stuff. The culture leads us to worry about the most trivial things, cars, jewelry, right hair, right clothes, biggest t.v. Whatever! I'm continually reminded if I would just keep Jesus in the front, I would worry about all the other stuff that makes life messy. Noting that the inheritance will be overflowing and abundant, we can rejoice with our fellow believers that there is soooo much! How greatful we will be.

[johnd]

Pastor Ralph, on Jul 24 2006, 02:19 AM, said:

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

If I knew that I was going to inherit that much money I would have to plan what to do with it.

Sometimes we get caught up in the day to day activities of our lives. I need a quiet time when I can soak in the presence of God.

Our family of fellow Christians and our fellowship with them should be an important part of our lives. They are, after all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Best regards,
John.

[ballzy]

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

Wow......at first glance, one would imagine that the answer to this question would have something to do with money, but that is not the case for me. When you are aware of a large inheritance in your future, you would need to prepare yourself to accept that inheritance. It would place a responsibility upon yourself to do what was neccesary to make those preparations. This is what should happen to us as believers when we become aware of our inheritance in God. Speaking for myself, this is the reason why I work on my relationship with the Lord by reading the Bible, doing studies such as this one, ministry work, etc. My greatest concern in life is to deepen my relationship with the Lord. As for affecting our fellowship with our Christian family, those ties shopuld also deepen. Growing together with our family, sharing our lives...good and bad, our concerns and our prayers can only deepen those relationships and make them more productive.

[BJB123]

Yes, I would be affected if I knew I was going to inherit $10 millon dollars. I would want to be planning what I would do with such an inheritance. I would certainly want to figure out ways to increase that amount. I would want to become debt free and to help others become debt free. I would want to help the poor and needy. I know that I would want to help build churches and the needs of the churches.

Regarding expectation of an inheritance in God's presence - present-day concerns: Being in God's presence gives such great peace. The peace now in knowing that one day I will be in Heaven with our Heavenly Father, Jesus and loved ones is an inheritance that only the Christian can look forward to. As Christians today, we need to help others and let others see what God is doing in us.

We should fellowship now on the earth with "the saints", our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We need to help them in their times of difficulty, sickness etc. We need to be so very close to our church family as well as our personal family.

[Lisa Rupert]

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?
My inheritance in Christ is worth more than $10 million and before I receive it or after it arrives I will continue on the journey of learning about my Father's expectations of me and to walk like Christ. Because after I receive the inheritance I must be prepared to live in my Father's Kingdom, something that this earthly world can't teach me, I must gain this knowledge through the Word and the Holy Spirit. So my demands will remain the same as before I received the $10 million until the day I reach my Father's Kingdom where so many other Christians will reside. It shall be a Family Reunion in my Father's house all the relatives will be there.

[Sgt_Z_Squad]

Q2a.) (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now?

Q2a.) It wouldn't change my status now. Many would begin spending it before they had it. However, with the promise of the LORD, I can live my life in abundance as has been promised to me through His grace and the adoption as sons in Jesus Christ.

Q2b.) How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns?

Q2b.) "..set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above not on earthly things." (Colossians 3:1,2)

Q2c.) Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them?

Q2c.) "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24, 25)

[Eudora]

I have given this second question and third question a bit more thought and wanted to share it.

How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns?

The world fears the power of the atom, yet we belong to the God of the universe who not only raised Jesus Christ from the dead, but created that atomic power. The Lord is our Shepard, whom shall we fear? We are children of light and our light has so much more creative energy than anything ever created because we are created in His image.

The very first thing that was ever created was light. Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. Light is spiritual empowerment. Light is something that makes vision possible. Light is illumination, a particular expression of the eye, which is a spiritual force.

Light is an energy, which is the flowing entity of God’s nature that produces a physical change. Energy is a usable power that can be harnessed and used to influence authority over a thing to supply more energy and command influence to create a positive flow into a creative thought. When authority is used defensively, it creates more power that activates the thought into a creation that is visible.

When we open our eyes and turn from the darkness to the light, we are empowered with a spiritual power over our present day concerns. When we release this power into the atmosphere, through prayer, we are releasing God’s power over that which exists in the present form. This is the activation of our faith in The Light.

Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" whom is our Christian family, we supply each other in fellowship to the one body in spirit and the one great hope which is in all of us who have received the one baptism from the one Lord who is above all, the One true God who has authority and sovereignty in our spirit.

We haven’t figured out how to harness the Light that lives in and among us to become One in unity, but that day will come. Actually, I believe it is already here, we just don’t see it in the natural. I think perhaps it is possible that we need to look beyond the darkness like God did and call the light into unification.