TOPIC: PROSPERITY ≠ GODLINESS
MEMORISE:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1 Timothy 6:17
READ: Luke 12:16-21
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
MESSAGE
Many years ago, a fellow believer said he wanted to change to another religion because he had observed that many of those who practice this other religion are very rich. I quickly made him realize that being wealthy is not a function of religion, nor is it an indication of godliness. Genesis 4:16-17 tells us that Cain built a city after he departed from the presence of the Lord. Building a city is a mighty feat; however, Cain was no longer dwelling in God's presence when he built that city. Don't be deceived into thinking that every green and flourishing branch is connected to the root, as some branches will remain green and seemingly healthy for a while even after they have been cut from the tree. Eventually, however, they will turn yellow and wither away.
It is true that God blesses His children with the power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18); however, wealth in itself should never be used as a measure of godliness. God measures our godliness by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). When His children bear the right fruit, He blesses them, and one of the signs of His blessing is wealth, as seen in the life of Abraham, who was rich in cattle, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2). Isaac was also a godly and prosperous person. The Bible says in Genesis 26:12-14 that he waxed richer and richer until he became exceedingly great and prosperous.
God wants you to be wealthy because He loves blessing His children with good gifts (Mathew 7:11), However, He doesn't want you to measure your life by the abundance or scarcity of your material possessions (Luke 12:15). Money is a tool, and when God entrusts you with it, He wants you to be faithful with it. He wants you to be rich towards Him and use the treasures He has given you to bring glory to Him. In today's Bible reading, the rich fool didn't understand that he was meant to be a good steward of his wealth. His life was cut short because he was not rich towards God and didn't acknowledge Him as his source; rather, he decided to lay up treasures for himself.
Beloved, God places more value on your fellowship with Him and the state of your heart (1 Peter 3:4) than your material possessions or the amount of money in your bank account. Let your focus be on cultivating true prosperity, which is the prosperity of your soul (3 John 2), and not material things.
KEY POINT
Material wealth is not a measure of godliness.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 50-55
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 21: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
1 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
3 His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
4 When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne
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