More times than I know, I have wished for things I know I am unable to have. Things like the ability to replace all my old furniture with new, to help our children, even more, financially, to afford a vacation to all the spots I'd like to see in this world and do it first class. Things like helping other family and friends financially, and any of the many things that an unlimited amount of money could provide. Or having a beautiful new car. We all dream.
Then yesterday, out of nowhere, three wishes were granted to me, and since that time, the thought of what to wish for has constantly occupied my mind! I am so grateful, however, that I didn't have to voice my wishes at that exact moment. "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty."( Proverbs 21:5) I have no need to be hasty and no desire for poverty. And I have three days to make my decision.
Several hours of the last day have been spent in prayer and searching the Bible for advice about this gift. As I puzzled it out, I began to wonder if this would be a gift, or a curse. I still haven't decided. In dreaming of these three wishes, I've gone through lists of things for which most people would or could wish, myself included. First thoughts turn to wealth, happiness, good health, our children, success, or love. How about asking for world peace, an end of world hunger, or returning our great nation to what it should be? Or how about world revival?
Should we ask for and or receive these things from a wish? God could grant every one of these wishes and so much more before we could complete speaking the wish. Since He hasn't done them all, it must not be in His plan for us or for the world yet. Dare I make a wish that is at cross-purposes with God? I think not.
There's a saying, however, that warns us to ‘Be careful what you wish for, lest it comes true." Many of those winning big money in the lottery end up with broken marriages, delinquent kids, broke and in debt and altogether ruined lives. Wealth, however, has a draw that is hard to resist. As I consider wealth, I consider the security we could provide for our children in providing the best education money could afford; or the trust funds we could set up for them, guaranteeing comfort throughout their lives. I could justify it by saying it's our responsibility to leave the children well situated when we pass away. To think of the lifestyle we could have today! Anything we wanted, we could have. We could travel to every place in the world we wanted to see and do it first class. Think of the family members we could help or the money we could give to our church. There is much that speaks well for having wealth.
But what is wealth? The Thesaurus says it is riches, prosperity, affluence, assets, possessions, material goods, treasure, abundance, and the dictionary says it's a large amount of money or possessions. God blessed Solomon because he didn't ask for wealth but, instead, asked for wisdom and knowledge. Should our wishes or requests be any different?
Do we deserve wealth just because we want to have it? "Lazy hands make a man poor but diligent hands bring wealth." (Proverbs 10:4) This tells us wealth is something for which we must work. Is it diligence to have a wish for wealth granted? I don't think so. We have a saying, "Easy come, easy go." Would we fulfill this saying if wealth were just given to us? Would we be thrifty with the gift or would we do as the prodigal son and squander our inheritance?
How valuable is wealth? "Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath." (Proverbs 11:4) "Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life." (Proverbs 22:4) "Whoever loves money never has money enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 5: 10) Timothy tells us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."( Hebrews 13:5) So, I ask you, how valuable is wealth? Is not the strength of our faith and the love of God more valuable and important in our lives?
And health! With just a wish, I could guarantee that no illness or injury or physical problems attacked any of us. In the end it won't matter though because we will all die of something. Is there really a magic bullet that provides for total and eternal health? There certainly is and it can be found in Revelation 21:4, where we are told, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." The day will come when no one will be ill, suffer, or die. Our minds are beyond even the capability of making a wish to provide for what God gives us freely.
