September 27                                 Ps 40 - 42

MISERABLE RICHES

MEMORISE: 'Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: But he that gathered by lab our shall increase.' (Prove 13:11)
READ: 1 Timothy 6: 17-19

Money is a defenses, just like wisdom. That means it is very useful in many areas. But God has defined how we should think about riches. God instructs his children, whom he has blessed, not to allow pride as a result of their wealth. Also they are to put their trust in God, not in their money, because God is the source of our wealth. A rich Christian is also expected to be full of good works and always ready to give to needy ones and invest his riches in God -glorifying projects as a way of laying up great rewards for him in eternity.

Riches and wealth are part of our Covenant rights. Jesus Christ took our poverty and lack and gave us his riches. God has a purpose for them. When they are not used accordingly, they defeat the purpose of being sent. Proverbs 11:24-25 says that those who deliberately lay up wealth without meeting God's purpose for it, may end up losing it. Saving is good but excessive saving - storing what God expects you to distribute to the needy - can turn riches into poverty.

James 5:1-6 warns the wicked rich of atrocities they commit. Wealth is power. Rich citizens of his kingdom can maltreat a poor kingdom. Wherever wicked men are rich, they want to assume control and dominate. Even in the church today, there is great discrimination against the poor. Those who are wealthy want the pastor to become their slave. They want to dictate the progress, the message and all major decisions. They want to hire and fire and occupy the highest seats (Jas 2:1-9).

If you cannot submit yourself to your spiritual leader because you are rich, your riches will become a misery and an abomination to God. Instead of being a Blessing, they will turn into a curse, an exhibit to use against you on the Day of Judgment. But wise. Even when others are doing wrong, should you join them? Why not becomes an example of a truly wealthy Christian today?

ACTION POINT
Realize that wealth and riches are useless in themselves and that it is the joy they are able to make available to others that give them value.