The Path to Spiritual Wealth – Obedience

If you had millions of dollars generated by several successful businesses could you walk away from it to follow the Father’s heart? That’s exactly what Charles Mully did over 27 years ago. This boy who was once abandoned and grew up on the streets of Kenya has an unlikely stratospheric rise out of poverty into a position of wealth and power. In the midst of a season of abundant material blessings he hears God’s voice calling him to sell everything and invest in the lives of orphaned children across the land. Against the better judgment of family, friends, and even the church community he obeys the voice of God risking his family’s security as well as his own life.

As Patty and I watched the movie Mully we were bombarded by a host of extreme emotions as well as the question could we do what he and his family did? I don’t want to give the full story away but it reminded me of the miraculous story of Moses leading the Israelites to the Promised Land.

As I contemplated Charles Mully’s life journey the word obedience kept coming to mind. Obedience is costly. Obedience to the call of God produces spiritual wealth, and this spiritual wealth satisfies the soul more deeply than any amount of worldly wealth. What are some of the spiritual riches that come from Biblical Obedience?

1. Communion – The greatest riches of all is intimate communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 14:23).
2. Comforter & Counselor- When you are doing the will of God He fills you with the comfort and wise counsel of His Spirit (John 14:15,26).
3. Contentment – Obedience leads to the fullness of a content spirit where you have all you need in the Father’s love (Phil. 4:11-13).
4. Courage – When you walk in obedience you are given a courageous spirit to do what the world calls crazy (Josh. 1:9).
5. Commendation – A life style of obedience will lead to the King saying: Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.                   (Matthew 25:34-36).

The movie Mully both challenged and encouraged me. It probed the depths of my soul. It reminded me of the importance of listening to the voice of my Father and responding in obedience. In a world that bombards our minds with the lie that worldly wealth and power is the only true satisfier of the soul it was good to get a glimpse into the life of Mully. His walk of obedience filled his soul with the fullness of God. His “yes” spilled over to countless orphans who have been rescued by a display of tangible love-which is truly the love of God in Christ Jesus.