Filthy Rich

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers . . . that you may know. . .  what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, Ephesians 1:16-18

What makes God rich? Have you ever asked yourself that question? What does someone who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who owns both heaven and earth look to as his treasure, his inheritance? This passage makes a startling claim along these lines: God views us as his inheritance!

While it might be tempting to see the word inheritance here as referring to what God will do for us, it's actually describing what God views as his riches and the glory of his inheritance. The God who is filthy rich views us as his greatest treasure (compare with Deuteronomy 9:29, Isaiah 47:6, 1 Peter 2:9) . While it is true that God intends to overwhelm us with his rich goodness (Ephesians 2:7), the emphasis here is on the fact that God looks forward to the day when we will stand complete in Christ as his perfected people. God delights in and looks forward to full fellowship with his saints!

Why would Paul want believers to know this? Remember, in Ephesians 4:1, Paul commands the Ephesian believers to walk worthy of their calling. After all God has done and will do, believers ought to be ready to live for God. Understanding God's view on our lives and the important part we play in his eternal drama ought to motivate us to live for him. 

Food for Thought

What difference will it make in your relationship with God when you realize that he values those who are in Christ to the point of viewing them as his inheritance?