The Script

¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ¹⁴ Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

¹⁵ As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. ¹⁶ Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. ¹⁷ I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. _{Philippians 4:10-17}

The Plot

If you have read my DIPShtick blog, you may remember this story that I posted almost two years ago. I think it fits our theme today.

What is the difference between rich and poor people? That is an awesome perspective!

Take, for example, the story about the father of a very wealthy family who took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

The two spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

The son replied, “It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.

“Oh yea,” said the son.

“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.”

The son continued, “We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.”

The father stood in amazement as the son continued by saying, “We have servants who serve us - but they serve others. We buy our food but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us and they have friends to protect them.”

The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.”

Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

I guess it boils down to the fact that we need to appreciate every single thing we have - especially our friends!

Perhaps this will help us refresh our perspective and appreciation. Life is too short and friends are too few.

The Walk Through

1. What attitude did Paul take in life with regards to material things?
2. Did Paul value the gifts he received or the friends he had more?
3. Our story today says that friends are what makes our life rich. How rich are you?

Ad Lib

“Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” _{- Benjamin Franklin}