Be Wealthy In God

“I just can’t live without “it!” 

Now, the “it” can be lots of things.  Family, Income, Spouse, Health, Home, or even your favorite TV show.  So, what are you going to do when “it” is gone?  The items I mentioned are often associated with meaning and purpose in life.  For instance, if the Lord blesses you with children and they all grow up and move away, then purpose in life of raising children goes away—then what?  Did you notice that the items I mentioned (Family, Income, Spouse, Health, Home, or a TV show) are not connected to any specific promise from God?  This is important, for if we don’t understand this, then when any of these blessings go missing the trauma begins.  But, life doesn’t have to be this way. God called Abraham to leave his home.  Ruth to live without her husband.  Job to live without his children and health.  Jesus even called some disciples to leave their jobs to come and follow him!  Yet, all these faith-filled followers of the Lord were

Wealthy In God!

To Arrest Arrogance

St. Paul is writing to Timothy and helps us to better understand what it means to be “wealthy in God.” 

“¹⁷ 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.”

I don’t want to assume anything so let’s ask the question: “Who are the “rich in this present world”?  I hope you answered, “That’s me.” This is true whether we have a huge house or no house, college debt or not, a flush checking account or scraping to pay the bills. As Americans we are rich.  These are facts: 1) We have the technology to spend 10 hours a day on smart phones, iPads or TV.  2) The average American makes 10 times more money than the average Indonesian.  3) In the time it has taken me to start this sermon an average of 75 children in 3^rd world countries has died from a preventable disease.  4) You may be part of the people who have purchased over 50 billion bottles of water this year. So, the “rich in this present world” is us.

I also want to be clear to say that it is not a sin to be wealthy.  God made people like Abraham, Job and Solomon very rich people.  However, it is wrong to be wealthy and “to be arrogant.”  Arrogance is an attitude.  No matter how many blessings you have arrogance says, “I’m not rich and the Bible’s warning about being rich doesn’t apply to me.  Besides, the pastor shouldn’t be talking about money!”  Do you understand that arrogance causes people to “put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain.”  Let’s give a definition to “hope.”  This is a “joyful attitude about the future.”  It sounds like “hope” and “faith” are cousins! 😊  If your future is shaped by joy and certainty that rests on interest rates, market fluctuations or even employment, then you are guilty of putting your hope in wealth. 

The wisest man in the world and the wealthiest man in the world discovered that the hard way. You heard it in the 1^st Scripture lesson today.  

“God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you… Solomon answered… ⁹Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong… God said to him … ¹² I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart” (1 King 3:5-12).  

Solomon certainly started out on the right foot.  He was more concerned about the people than his own riches.  And God was pleased to give him wisdom and riches!  However, as the years passed on and Solomon’s wealth and power grew he thought less and less about God’s treasures and more and more about his own.  Later in life he realized the error of his ways, repented, and by the grace of God returned to the faith-filled man he once was.  Here’s how Solomon explained it in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

“¹⁰ I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.  My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.  ¹¹ Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun… [Then Solomon continues]. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him” (Eccl 2:10, 11; 3:14).

When we hear these words we can’t help but confess those times that we have been selfish and arrogant when it has come to our God-given blessings.  Too often we have forgotten that all we have comes from God and belongs to God.  We are simply managers for our possessions as Paul said earlier in chapter 6,

“⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Tim 6:7).

It reminds me of a time in the hospital when the family was gathering to say their final goodbyes to a man of means (millionaire).  I overheard a couple of the children and grandchildren talking in the waiting room, “How much do you think he is leaving us?”  I wanted to say, “I’m pretty sure he’s leaving you everything.”  May God’s grace and love for us touch our hearts to Arrest Arrogance and Be Wealthy In God! In order

To Apprehend Assurance

When St. Paul was writing about leaving our earthly blessings behind when we die, he wasn’t talking about what we will take with us.  We were born in sin and without Jesus Christ living in our hearts.  God went to work to send Jesus who lived for us, died to wash away our sins and rose because he was declared not guilty before the Lord.  Jesus ascended into heaven to rule all things, that includes you!  So, how much did Jesus leave you?  Let Jesus speak for himself.

“¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

“²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:26-27).

“¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).

“¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (John 15:16).

These are promises of God that have been given to you and will last forever!  God loves us, God provides for us, and God calls us to follow his holy will faithfully.  No money advisor or financial magazine will tell you this.  You will only hear this from God’s Word in church and in your Bible reading.  Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit promised to point you to Jesus so that through faith in Jesus Christ you now Apprehend Assurance. Be assured Jesus gives you everything you need that will last forever!  Jesus gives you good fruits of faith to produce as you follow him that will last forever!  Jesus gives you every reason to live each day in Divine Peace, Love, Joy and that all your prayers are heard and answered according to God’s perfect, holy will that will last forever!!  Yes, Be Wealthy in Jesus’ Promises in order To Apprehend Assurance that will last forever!

Now let’s make this real.  Wouldn’t you just love to be less greedy, have less worries in life and be Wealthy in God?  Then here it is.  Even if the economy is uncertain, God’s riches in Christ will never lose their value.  Stressed out about your job?  Jesus has already finished his job and his benefits to you will never lose their value.  Anxious about retirement?  Resist the urge to be rich in self and go to God humble in spirit, confessing your sins and eager for his generous grace that will never lose its value.

St. Paul continues to encourage us in a practical way to be Wealthy in God.

“¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ 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.”  

The key word here is “good.”  When making “good” financial decisions rather than our first statement being, “Can I afford it?” we can say, “Is this good?”  Here are some examples.  It may be “good” to save for the future what I’d like to spend now.  It may be “good” to use my blessings for others before I use them on myself.  It may be “good” to stop, do some financial planning that focuses on a God-pleasing strategy to bring glory to God.  We did that here at Divine Peace about 10 years ago when we hosted a “Financial Peace University” course.  There are families here today that began this course in a financial mess and are debt free today because they were more informed about making Christ-centered financial decisions.   We studied Scripture promises and financial principles that combine to help you manage your money instead of letting your money manage you!  In a practical way in Christ Jesus we took “hold of the life that is truly life” because we were rich in Christ!  That was “good!”

Being rich in Christ becomes very practical in the church.  About every two months our Kingdom Kids offering of about $800 is sent to a new mission start.  The Good Samaritan fund has helped many people who ran into financial difficulties.  In order to invite our neighbors to come and visit we have a new LED sign that is generously supported by many of you!  The Voters passed a ministry spending plan a few weeks ago that totals $580,000 (or a weekly offering total of $11,000).  When I hear this number I’m amazed at the ministry being done at Divine Peace and the generosity of you to support it.  Yes, God’s Word rings in my ears, “to be generous and willing to share.” Thank you! 

“I just can’t live without it!”  I hope you have come to appreciate what the “it” is.  The real measure of our wealth is how much we would be worth if we lost our money.  We can stand confidently on God’s promises and Be Wealthy in God!  Trust in God who has richly provided for you to Arrest Arrogance and to Apprehend Assurance.  Take a deep breath and love God more than money.  Then as Paul says,

“¹⁹ 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.” 

Amen.