What is a Wealth of Self-Worth and Optimism?

May 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Imagine you had wealth, all the wealth you needed to be happy and optimistic not only for a lifetime, but for eternity.  Now suppose I told you that such wealth was available to anyone who understands and accepts the meaning of the phrase: “a wealth-of-self-worth.” With this wealth-of-worth, any pessimism can be “Bussted-Up” easily in a moment or two.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, we are told that a farmer who plants a few seeds will get a small crop, and one who plants generously will get a large crop.  We are further told that if we give generously, God will provide all we need with plenty left over to share with others.  And, if we give to others, especially the poor, like the farmer who plants many seeds, we will receive an increase in resources and a great harvest of generosity within us.

What does it mean that God will provide all we need with plenty left over?  What kind of wealth is this when all my needs are met and more?  Remember what I have said before about less is more.  The riches of self-worth are not made up of bags of money, a mansion, expensive cars and clothes, a prestigious job, or status in the community.  All of these riches can be taken a way in an instant by a tornado or a heart attack.  

The riches of self-worth come from within.

Let’s turn to a personal story to illustrate what I believe is the meaning of this passage and how it helps us understand and define the concept of a “wealth-of-self-worth.”

A “Busster” Story for the Meaning of  a “Wealth-of-Worth”

   * For the last several months, I have been serving as a mentor to a first grader who comes from a financially impoverished home and whose family was homeless earlier in the school year.  I work with this child once a week for an hour and the goal of the program is to establish a strong relationship with a positive adult role model.  We meet at his school during the school day.  We usually do a mixture of talking, some schoolwork, and then something creative.  It was clear early on that he enjoyed hands-on creative projects.  After experimenting with a few ideas we settled on making bookmarks out of 3 x 5 cards and colored pipe cleaners.  First we would use crayons to color the cards.  Then we would fold the card lengthwise, in half and cut three to four small diamond shape holes through which we could insert two or three pipe cleaners of different colors.

   * He stated that he would like to make a bookmark for each of his 1st grade classmates.  After 5 weeks of mentoring sessions we had made twenty book marks with a child's fist name on 19 and the teacher's on number 20.  We arranged a time to pass them out.  They sat on the floor as I handed John (not his real name) a bookmark and he called out each child's name, one by one.  All were smiling, very appreciative and many thanks were said.  The teacher put her hand over heart and whispered "thank-you" to me.  Afterward, John followed me out into the hall and as he wrapped his arms around my leg giving me a hug of genuine thanksgiving, I knew I knew what it meant to have all the wealth I could ever want or need.

In that moment, I was experiencing a wealth-of-worth and so was he.  We had given generously of our time and spirit to each other and to the class and as the above scripture passage says: God had produced a great spirit of generosity within us.  A wealth-of-worth that will be in our spiritual savings bank for eternity.

Great wealth that cannot be stolen, broken down or destroyed is spiritual.  And, spiritual wealth provides never ending funding for the view we call optimism.

http://www.drrussbuss.com/optimism-blog/2011/5/23/what-is...

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