Day 9/1 – Prosperity Without Power

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
Prosperity Without Power
Day Two Hundred Forty-four

“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon men: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them; this is vanity; it is a sore affliction.” Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

If your ambition centers in this life, you will despair and give your life to folly. Life brings too many hurtful events for it to be otherwise. Hope does not come from understanding the circumstances that invade your life, or from your resolve to face the circumstances. Rather, you find hope in recognizing that what you perceive to be good and evil comes from the hand of a gracious God. To lie down and quit does not help. Anger and resentment don’t help. Neither does wishing that things were different do much to console. So also, looking for fairness will add to your despair.

A man spent his life acquiring for the day of retirement. Two weeks into his retirement he had a stroke and spent the last 15 years of his life watching others enjoy what he had accumulated. Such a person faces a practical question: Is his relationship with God of any use? Can God deal with you in the condition in which you find yourself? The heroes of life are not those born wealthy, living seemingly carefree existences, but those who face the disappointments of life in the power of God.

You prepare for calamity before God’s testing comes. Review, on a daily basis, the fact that “you are not your own; you have been bought with a price.”321 Your prosperity resides in your relationship with Christ, which is eternal, rather than the assets He gives you, which not only are temporal, but also may be spent by others.

321 I Corinthians 6:20

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Psalm 135-136 1 Corinthians 12 (New King James Version)

Psalm 135-136
Praise to God in Creation and Redemption
135
Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord;
Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord!
2
You who stand in the house of the Lord,
In the courts of the house of our God,
3
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
4
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His [a]special treasure.
5
For I know that the Lord is great,
And our Lord is above all gods.
6
Whatever the Lord pleases He does,
In heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places.
7
He causes the [b]vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
He makes lightning for the rain;
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.
8
He [c]destroyed the firstborn of Egypt,
[d]Both of man and beast.
9
He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
10
He defeated many nations
And slew mighty kings—
11
Sihon king of the Amorites,
Og king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan—
12
And gave their land as a [e]heritage,
A heritage to Israel His people.
13
Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.
14
For the Lord will judge His people,
And He will have compassion on His servants.
15
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
16
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
17
They have ears, but they do not hear;
Nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18
Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.
19
Bless the Lord, O house of Israel!
Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron!
20
Bless the Lord, O house of Levi!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
21
Blessed be the Lord out of Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!
Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy
136
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
3
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
4
To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
5
To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
6
To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
7
To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever—
8
The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
9
The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.
10
To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
For His mercy endures forever;
11
And brought out Israel from among them,
For His mercy endures forever;
12
With a strong hand, and with [f]an outstretched arm,
For His mercy endures forever;
13
To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
For His mercy endures forever;
14
And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His mercy endures forever;
15
But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His mercy endures forever;
16
To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His mercy endures forever;
17
To Him who struck down great kings,
For His mercy endures forever;
18
And slew famous kings,
For His mercy endures forever—
19
Sihon king of the Amorites,
For His mercy endures forever;
20
And Og king of Bashan,
For His mercy endures forever—
21
And gave their land as a [g]heritage,
For His mercy endures forever;
22
A heritage to Israel His servant,
For His mercy endures forever.
23
Who remembered us in our lowly state,
For His mercy endures forever;
24
And rescued us from our enemies,
For His mercy endures forever;
25
Who gives food to all flesh,
For His mercy endures forever.
26
Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.
Footnotes:
• Psalm 135:4 precious possession
• Psalm 135:7 Water vapor
• Psalm 135:8 Lit. struck down
• Psalm 135:8 Lit. From man to beast
• Psalm 135:12 inheritance
• Psalm 136:12 Mighty power
• Psalm 136:21 inheritance

1 Corinthians 12
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb[b] idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus [c]accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works [e]all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Unity and Diversity in One Body
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink [g]into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no [h]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the [i]best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Footnotes:
• 1 Corinthians 12:2 NU, M that when
• 1 Corinthians 12:2 mute, silent
• 1 Corinthians 12:3 Gr. anathema
• 1 Corinthians 12:4 allotments or various kinds
• 1 Corinthians 12:6 all things in
• 1 Corinthians 12:9 NU one
• 1 Corinthians 12:13 NU omits into
• 1 Corinthians 12:25 division
• 1 Corinthians 12:31 NU greater