Riches: June 7, 2011

JUNE 7, 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY JUNE 7, 2011.

RICHES

DEFINITION:

Abundant and valuable possessions; wealth.

SCRIPTURE:

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. I Timothy 6:17.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We began early in the lives of our children to teach them to be responsible with their money. We are grateful to our Lord that He provided just enough riches to us to provide our children what they needed. But we were not always able to provide the “wants” they would have liked to have. We explained to our children why we could not and it became a real life learning situation with the result that today they are in the same position with their children.

We encouraged our children to spend their money on their “wants” after they gave their tithe to the Lord. One of our sons said that as a child he didn’t always understand the principle behind what we were teaching but as he matured he came to understand the value of what we were teaching concerning money and tithing.

We also taught our children that 10% of all the money earned or even received as a gift belonged to the Lord. God has proven to all of our family over these years that He will bless us if we honor this commitment to Him. Although our budget was at times tight, we tried to show our children by example the importance of sharing with others a portion of what God blessed us with.

The spiritual handicaps to riches as written in the Bible are referred to as spiritually valueless, inferior, fleeting, unsatisfying, hurtful, deceitful, choking, uncertain and corrupted. This is quite a list and should set off a warning light to one who has an obsessive desire for riches and wealth in this world.

Riches and money are powerful forces in the world we live in today. We work hard for money, we save money, we spend money for our longings and necessities and then desire more. Money can never completely satisfy.

Trusting in wealth and using it to gain power clogs our spiritual arteries and spiritual development. We are told in Deuteronomy 8:17 and 18, “You may say in your heart, my power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth. But you shall remember the Lord your God, it is He who has given you power to get wealth.” Our hope is not to be put in riches but in the Lord.

The apostle Paul tells us in I Timothy 6:17 (above) that those who are rich in this world should not be conceited about their wealth because worldly riches are temporary and cannot be taken with us when we die. Paul also tells us not to put our trust in uncertain riches. He infers in this verse that it is very hard to have riches in this world without having to put some measure of trust in those riches.

It is important for us to remember that riches can be quickly lost and with riches comes responsibility. God expects us to use wisely what He blessed us with.

In verse 18, Paul tells us that if God does bless us with riches that we should be ready to give and willing to share and by doing this (verse 19) you will be laying up treasures, your wealth, in heaven.

God wants us not to put riches first in our lives, not to put our trust in riches and to remember that all riches come from God. It is He who will supply all of our needs. Riches are a blessing only to those who make them a blessing to others.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 4:7.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

PRAYER:

Give me the right attitude about riches. Help me not to be jealous of those that have riches. Help me to be the steward of any riches You give me in a way that honors Your name.