Christ is Rich to Those Living in the Church, Anonymous

The life in the church is the most wonderful and marvelous experience in my Christian life! It has saved me from so many personal struggles that I thought I had to deal with on my own. It has revolutionized my way of thinking and my daily living.

I went through most of my 28 years apart from any real enjoyment and experience of Christ. Although I would have professed to be a Christian, I was merely a Sunday morning Christian. Ingrained into my being was the thought of the American dream that stated that the only way to be happy was to be rich. So I lived a life that revolved around that goal. The church was just a building that I went to for two hours out of every week. There I heard, and quickly forgot, stories about good men such as Moses, David, Jesus and Paul. These stories taught me to be a good person and to help others. One day I would go to heaven; but in the mean time I could just do whatever I pleased--namely, get rich!

Little did I know how poor I really was. Upon being brought into the local church, I was tenderly cherished and cared for. Through my hearing of many Christian brothers' and sisters' sharing, I was richly fed with Christ. I found that having a large sum in my bank account did not make me a rich person. To be rich in that way is temporary and a mere vanity; rather, it is the very God of the universe who is rich. On top of that, God's Word reveals that He is pleased to dispense Himself with all of His riches into all of His believers, including me.

In the church, this dispensing takes place in a wonderful way. The believers care for one another and love the Lord together. For example, after a long day, I can pick up the telephone and call a brother to have a time of washing in the Word and sweet fellowship. In this way, we impart the riches of Christ into each other.

I have become a person who is no longer wrapped up in myself and my lowly concerns. God desires to be expressed and revealed in many lovers of Christ who are built into a corporate expression of Himself. This will last through all eternity. How great that such a small person as myself could be released from fleeting personal accomplishments. I am so glad that I have a part in God's eternal economy, which is God's way of dispensing all His riches into His seekers. In this way, I have truly become a rich person!