The
Word warns us about wealth.
The
love of money is the root of all evil.
The most important wealth in the
world has nothing to do with money. It is the wealth, the richness we have with
Jesus.
Is
it alright to have great wealth and materialistic things? Of course, as long we are
humble and Jesus is first and our number one priority in life. As long as we
believe everything we have was given to us by the Lord. As long as we do not
idolize money and material things. It's imperative a wealthy individual must be
alert and tuned up with Jesus because the enemy is working overtime on Christians.
There
are some wealthy Christians that put Jesus first!
Why
are we warned in the Bible about the difficulties of wealth?
Now
we all know some rich people who are Christians, they are humble, fear God, and
love Jesus.
Most
wealthy individuals have a tremendous amount of pride. They believe they have
figured out everything in life.
They
continually judge and laugh at others. They believe because they have great
wealth and greater intelligence then others.
Wealthy
people believe they are at a much higher level than others.
They
have a great love of money.
They
idolize money and their toys and materialistic things.
They
believe God is for the common folk.
One
of the wealthiest men in the world stated, "there is nothing that
money can't fix".
Granted
he has given away billions of dollars which is wonderful, but he claims to be
an agnostic. He states God is for poor people.
In
his senior years a man once asked his cousin; "why aren't we
wealthy?" His cousin said, "because for years our parents prayed for
our protection and love for the Lord." What he meant was because the
parents were praying for protection, in Gods eyes that also means besides
protection from danger and sickness but also keeping them from being wealthy
because it is much more difficult to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I.E.
Because of prayer they were not driven by achievement of great success and the
love of wealth. So they are rich with the most important wealth in life,
putting Jesus first.
Bottom
line, what is real wealth? With Jesus in our heart, putting Jesus first, that's
what matters,
that’s real wealth....
_________
James
2;5
Listen,
my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be
rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those
who love Him?
Matthew
19;24
Again
I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
person to enter into the kingdom of God.”
1
Timothy 6;10
For
the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by
longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with
many griefs.
James
5;1
Come
now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are
coming upon you.
Job
27;19
He
goes to bed wealthy, but will do so no more. When he opens his
eyes, it is all gone.
Psalm
49;20
Wealthy people do not understand;
they are like animals that perish.
Psalms
49;1-10
The
Folly of Trusting in Riches.
1
Hear
this, all peoples;
Give
ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2
Both
low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3
My
mouth will speak wisdom,
And
the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4
I
will incline my ear to a proverb;
I
will express my riddle on the harp.
5
Why
should I fear in days of adversity,
When
the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
6
Even
those who trust in their wealth
And
boast in the abundance of their riches?
7
No
man can by any means redeem his brother
Or
give to God a ransom for him—
8
For
the redemption of his soul is costly,
And
he should cease trying forever—
9
That
he should live on eternally,
That
he should not undergo decay.
10
For
he sees that even wise men die;
The
stupid and the senseless alike perish
And
leave their wealth to others.
Mark
10;23
And
Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those
who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
Luke
18;23-27
23 But when he had heard these
things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 And
Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy
to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the
kingdom of God.” 26 They who heard it said, “Then who can be
saved?” 27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people
are possible with God.”
Matthew
19;23
And
Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is very hard for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mark
4;19
The
worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the
desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes
unfruitful.
Luke
8;14
The seed
which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go
on their way they are choked with worries and riches and
pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
Ecclesiastes
5;10
[ The
Folly of Riches ] He who loves money will not be satisfied
with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too
is vanity.
Luke
12;21
So
is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich
toward God.
Luke
18;23
But
when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
Romans
10;12
For
there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord
is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on
Him.
1
Timothy 6;9
But
those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and
many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
1
Timothy 6;17
Instruct
those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or
to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on
God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
James
1;11
For
the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls
off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich
man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
James
2;5
Listen,
my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be
rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those
who love Him?
Revelation
18;19
19 They will throw dust on their
heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:
“‘Woe!
Woe to you, great city,
where
all who had ships on the sea
became
rich through her wealth!
In
one hour she has been brought to ruin!
Timothy skon
9/5/15