July 17, 2024
Praying Partners,
I recently listened to a podcast where Carey Nieuwhof interviewed Ken Costa, South African banker and Christian philanthropist, about his recent book, The 100 Trillion Dollar Wealth Transfer.
Mr. Costa made a statement that shocked me. He said, “The biggest bank at the moment in the UK and also in the US is called, not Bank of America. It's not called Wells Fargo. It's called BOMAD. The bank of Mom and Dad, and probably the bank of Grandpa and Grandma.”
He then went on to say that in the next 10 years there will be an unprecedented wealth transfer from the so-called “baby boomer” generation to the young generation Z. Imagine being in your 20s or 30s and having a million dollars dropped into your bank account.
Everyone appreciates an inheritance.
As Paul encourages the Colossian believers to maintain a grateful spirit, He reminds them of some of their greatest spiritual blessings. They were not limited to those local believers, but are true of each child of God.
The first in a list of four is about our inheritance. “Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:12 NIV).
Regardless of the size of your earthly inheritance, you have an eternal one.
Paul started by saying that he was giving joyful thanks to the Father. It’s one thing to give thanks for something. It’s much greater to give joyful thanks. This is a heart that is overwhelmed with gratitude at the goodness of God.
Ann Voskamp says, ”Being joyful isn't what makes you grateful. Being grateful is what makes you joyful.” If this is the case, then our thanksgiving has a very immediate and present impact on the quality of our lives. Who doesn’t want to live with joy!
It is worth noting that our thanks is directed to our heavenly Father. While it is always good to thank the person who holds the door for you or invites you for a meal, all thanks should be oriented toward our Father. He is the giver of all good gifts. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Having a grateful spirit in a general sense is good, but here in Colossians 1, Paul is grateful that he and all believers have been qualified to share in the inheritance of our God.
To be qualified is a wonderful truth. The original Greek word means “to make sufficient, to empower, or to authorize.”
As you know, there was a time when we were not qualified to share in anything of God’s. Now, because of the death of Christ upon the cross, we have been authorized to share in our Father’s full inheritance.
This sharing is not just a future reality but a present one as well. It’s like getting a gift that has another part to it that will come at a future date. We enjoy the inheritance because Christ has already died. By faith we have eternal life and we benefit from God’s life with us.
Peter’s mind was definitely in the future when he said, “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). What a spectacular future awaits us!
This inheritance is not reserved for a special few, but rather for all God’s holy people. Each child of God will share in the inheritance. There are no favorites!
It is important to distinguish this inheritance from the reward given by God. At the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15), rewards will be given based on faithful living for God. Every believer will receive reward according to what he or she has done for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
May God help us all to live with joyful thanksgiving today! Thank you for praying for our prodigals and for revival among us.
Love in Christ,
Bryan and Rachel
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