Missionary, are you rich in God's eyes or only in the eyes of the world?

 

Missionary Reflection Missionary, how are you living your life here on earth? What is your greatest purpose? What have you prepared for eternity? These questions are not just reflections; they are sincere confrontations with our calling. After all, what good is it to work so hard here if we are only building for this world that is passing away? God’s Word is clear. In Isaiah 55:1–2, the Lord’s invitation resounds strongly: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” God is offering, freely, what truly satisfies. But sadly, many are spending their lives on what does not nourish and has no eternal value. During our early years in Bolivia, my wife Mina and I faced decisions that tested our understanding of what it means to be truly rich. We sold our car, gave away many of our belongings, and with the little we had left, we crossed the border. We had no certainty about tomorrow, but we had clarity about God’s purpose for our lives. Our joy was in living out what God had called us to do: to serve in the field where He had placed us. And that, my brother, that is true wealth! I remember Mina’s testimony. She left an excellent job in Japan, where she lived in a comfortable apartment in Tokyo. She could have continued living a safe and secure life. But the voice of God was stronger than comfort. She exchanged the skyscrapers of the city for tents among indigenous villages in Paraguay. She slept in hammocks, often in a tent, and faced challenging situations. But as her husband, I can say I’ve never seen a woman so rich. Rich in the joy that comes from heaven, for being in the perfect will of the Lord Jesus. Rich in faith and full of confidence in living out what God was commanding. Rich in fulfilling God’s purpose. You know, 1 Chronicles 12:39–40 tells us that David held a feast with what had been sent to him. There was abundance, joy, and gratitude. Likewise, Esther 9:22 speaks of days of rejoicing and of sending gifts and presents to the poor. Living for God also means celebrating, sharing, and giving. Abigail understood this when she brought blessings to David (1 Samuel 25:18). She didn’t just offer food—she brought peace and fulfilled a greater purpose. We are stewards of God here on earth, preparing for a great celebration in heaven. Every missionary step, every offering given, every tear shed is an invitation to others to join that eternal feast. But there are also those who, like the rich man in Luke 16:19–24, have much in this life yet are poor before God. They live only for themselves and fail to realize that they are taking nothing with them into eternity. On the contrary, what awaits them is sorrow. Revelation 3:17 is even more direct and confrontational: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” Missionary, who is measuring your wealth—God or the standards of this world? Sometimes we say we’re broke, unsupported, lacking structure... but does God agree with that assessment? Or are we simply measuring ourselves by the deceptive ruler of this age? I once met a brother who truly understood this: the late Attilio Finazzi. Already elderly, he told me he was selling land in São Paulo to buy Bibles and gospel tracts. With the money, he sent out thousands of tracts through the Evangelistic Support Program, including in Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. He knew that his heavenly bank account mattered far more than his earthly one. How many lives were reached through that eternal investment? How much did this man truly take with him into eternity? Peniel Dourado with his brother Attilio Finazzi The Bible says in Amos 8:11–13 that days of famine are coming—not a famine of bread, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. And those who have no access to the Word are, in God’s eyes, the truly miserable. Poverty is not the absence of possessions; it is the absence of direction from the Eternal. Without that guidance, it’s impossible to live well here—let alone prepare for what’s to come. Matthew 25:10 warns us about those who tried to prepare at the last minute—but the doors were already closed. The wise, the truly rich, heard the Word beforehand, aligned their lives with it, and were ready. That’s what the missionary life is like. We must live each day with our eyes fixed on eternity. It’s not easy. There will be sacrifices. But the reward is certain. Luke 12:19–20 tells of the man who said, “You have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul will be required of you. Then who will get what you have prepared?” The real foolishness is to ignore God’s purpose. Missionary, are you living for yourself or for the Lord? Are you building something that will fade with time—or something that will last forever? True wealth is not measured by numbers or titles, but by obedience to the call. May every step we take be guided by the Word, every decision anchored in eternity, and every sacrifice a sign of our faith. For there is no richer life than the one lived for God. By Peniel N. Dourado 🎥 VIDEOS ABOUT MISSIONS 👉 CLICK HERE if you’d like to watch our videos on Missionary Reflections on YouTube. **DONATION**

MY CONTACT If you prefer, you can send your email to my personal contact pastorpeniel@hotmail.com Thank you for your understanding