An Admonition for the Rich
Jesus and Paul warned us about the dangers of being rich. I am not sure how to define rich, but in the standards of this world, most people in America are rich. Therefore, we need to hear what the Lord inspired Paul to write to Timothy about the rich.(I Timothy 6:17,18)
When we have some wealth, it is easy to be proud or haughty. We feel self-sufficient, and we can think we gained the wealth because we are better than other people. Of course, all we have comes from God, not from our abilities. What He gives, He can take away very quickly. Also, it is very easy to trust in our money, instead of trusting God. That is a fatal mistake. That is why Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.(Matthew 19:23)
Therefore, we must guard against these dangers by doing good and being rich in good works. The money is not so important. it is being faithful to do what God has for us to do in humility. That will lessen the temptation to be proud. Then, we must be ready to give and willing to share. One way we can tell if we are trusting money instead of God is if we have trouble contributing to things or people that God tells us to contribute to. If we argue with God, or we just ignore His will, we are trusting in the money and thinking it brings us security, when only God can do that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Timothy 2-4.
When we have some wealth, it is easy to be proud or haughty. We feel self-sufficient, and we can think we gained the wealth because we are better than other people. Of course, all we have comes from God, not from our abilities. What He gives, He can take away very quickly. Also, it is very easy to trust in our money, instead of trusting God. That is a fatal mistake. That is why Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.(Matthew 19:23)
Therefore, we must guard against these dangers by doing good and being rich in good works. The money is not so important. it is being faithful to do what God has for us to do in humility. That will lessen the temptation to be proud. Then, we must be ready to give and willing to share. One way we can tell if we are trusting money instead of God is if we have trouble contributing to things or people that God tells us to contribute to. If we argue with God, or we just ignore His will, we are trusting in the money and thinking it brings us security, when only God can do that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Timothy 2-4.