Nothing, but everything

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. – 2 Corinthians 6.4-10

The very last phrase here really sums up the whole saga of struggles.

Sorrowful, but rejoicing
Poor, but made rich
Having nothing, but possessing everything

Dr Suess put it this way – ‘it’s a troublesome world, all the people who are in it, are troubled with troubles almost every minute.’ I think that’s something that we allcan indentify with.

There is a kept word in Dr Suess’ quote – it’s a troublesome world, all the people who are in it…

There are some folks our there who have plenty of material things. Some have never felt like they are poor or like they have nothing. I’m not talking so much about those of in the west. The poorest of us probably has more than the vast majority of the world.

Even if we do have next to nothing materially though we still can take joy in the fact that we have what is important. Our eternity is secure. We have strength to carry us through this world. We have the daily mercies of God. We have His sustaining grace.

We may indeed have nothing – but praise God we possess everything.