LISTEN TO AND DO WHAT OUR LORD SAYS ABOUT WEALTH!
Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.” —Jeremiah 37:2-3
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. —I Timothy 6:17-19
There are people who want to be prayed for, but they do not want to “pay any attention to the words the Lord has spoken.” I trust that is not you and me. Yes, I desire people to pray for me, but I also want to pay attention to the Word my Lord has spoken. That is what is most important— what He says. Not only do I want to pay attention to what He says, but I desire to lovingly obey and do what He says. May this be so.
Speaking of being obedient to what our Lord says, He says—
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
It is very clear in this passage that it is not wrong to be rich, it is what one does with those riches and the motivation behind what they are doing with those riches. This is a challenge to many of us who our Lord has blessed us with material wealth… at whatever level. The rich are to be commanded—
- Not to be arrogant (there are many rich people who are arrogant, proud, conceited, superior and that is why there is a command here not for them to be. They need to be humble and there are rich people who are)
- Not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth (“Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” —Proverbs 23:5).
- They are to put their hope in God (Matthew 22:37-40)
- To understand God has richly provided us with everything for our enjoyment (God wants us to enjoy what He has given us!)
- To do good
- To be rich in good deeds
- To be generous
- To be willing to share
When the rich use their wealth in a godly manner they “will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” So, hear what our Lord has said and then lovingly do what He says! And I will pray for you, and for myself— Dear Father, be pleased to speak to each of us in what You desire of us in the application of this passage to our lives. With whatever riches You have given us, may we do good with them, be rich in good deeds with them, be generous with them and be willing to share. Yes, please guide us in this and may we follow Your guidance by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So may it be for Your honor and glory and for the benefit of many others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-6YdT1DEO8&list=RDp-6YdT1DEO8&start_radio=1