When it comes to finances, I am by nature a saver. Amy is, by nature, a spender.
Amy laughs at me because I'll stand in the middle of the aisle at the grocery store, holding two different sizes of the same product. I'll divide the number of ounces by the cost to see which one is the better deal. She, on the other hand, says, "Time is money. I'd rather spend the extra 1.2 cents per ounce than spend the time you did figuring out the cost difference."
Some stores have picked up on this desire to know which size of a product is the better deal (probably because they've seen me standing in their aisles), and have started marking the price per ounce on their shelf stickers. Now I'm able to save money AND time.
The other day we were driving to town. Amy looked over at me and said, "If you hadn't married me, you'd probably be a millionaire by now."
I looked at her, then turned and looked at our two precious children sitting in the back seat. "I may not be a millionaire," I said, "but I'm already rich beyond measure. All the money in the world wouldn't matter if I didn't have you and the kids."
Where does true value lie? Is it in the size of a bank account? The number of bills tucked into a money clip? The number of things crammed into a home? Personally, I believe true value lies in the relationships we have, the people we love, the God we serve.
God has blessed me with Amy and the kids. Proverbs 31:10 states, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." In Psalm 127:3 King David wrote, "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him."
As I said before, all the money in the world wouldn't matter if I didn't have Amy and the kids in my life.
Why do I say that? What causes me to see it from that perspective? Because it's the same perspective our heavenly father has concerning us.
God is rich. Psalm 24:1 tells us, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." Every ounce of gold, silver and other precious metals are his. Every diamond, emerald and other precious stones belong to him. He owns every animal in the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). It's all God's. Yet all the riches of heaven and earth mean nothing to him if he doesn't also have you.
How do I know that? Because he sent Jesus to die for you. Jesus died so that you can be forgiven of your sins. Jesus died so that you can have a relationship with your heavenly father. Jesus died so that you might live.
Have you accepted this gift? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior? If not, why not do it now?
Parrish Myers is pastor of Pine Crest Baptist Church in Gainesville. His column runs every other week in Sunday Life.