Instructions for the Rich
Yes, we are rich. If we compare our standard of living with those all around the world, we are definitely considered rich. Now, we may not think that is true, but we can fall victim to the traps rich people can fall into, so we need to take seriously these admonitions from the apostle Paul to Timothy. (I Timothy 6:17) If we fail to guard against these things, we will end up sinning against God and others.
When we have a good income and enough money to buy some of the things we want, we can think we are better than those who don't have what we have. We can be conceited because of the money we have been given by the Lord. In fact, we could look down on others, and that could keep us from loving them and having true fellowship with them, even our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is a terrible heart condition, and it can only be taken away by real confession and repentance.
Also, when we get a taste of what money can buy, and we get comfortable with having nice things, we can begin to fix our hope on money and what it buys, instead of trusting in the Lord. That is a very serious error. Remember, God gives us all we have. He wants us to take it, manage it well, and enjoy it. However, if we put our hope in our money instead of Him, He is liable to take the money away, so we can learn our lesson the hard way. I pray that will never happen to any of us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Timothy 1-3.
When we have a good income and enough money to buy some of the things we want, we can think we are better than those who don't have what we have. We can be conceited because of the money we have been given by the Lord. In fact, we could look down on others, and that could keep us from loving them and having true fellowship with them, even our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is a terrible heart condition, and it can only be taken away by real confession and repentance.
Also, when we get a taste of what money can buy, and we get comfortable with having nice things, we can begin to fix our hope on money and what it buys, instead of trusting in the Lord. That is a very serious error. Remember, God gives us all we have. He wants us to take it, manage it well, and enjoy it. However, if we put our hope in our money instead of Him, He is liable to take the money away, so we can learn our lesson the hard way. I pray that will never happen to any of us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Timothy 1-3.