OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-MONDAY-05/09/2016-THE GOOD SIDE OF WEALTH-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
THE GOOD SIDE OF WEALTH
Memorise
The rich
ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7
Read
1st
Chronicles 4:9-10,
9 And
Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name
Jabez, saying, because I bare him with sorrow.
10 And
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me
indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that
thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him
that which he requested.
KJV
MESSAGE
Wealth is
generally interpreted as the abundance of goods or money. However, Biblical
reference to wealth is always within the framework of economic, social,
cultural, spiritual and political settings of the people. Therefore, terms such
as ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ are relative to the context in which they are used in the
Bible. Wealth is mostly attached to people or nations but the Bible also
mentioned wealthy individuals such as Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, the Queen
of Sheba, etc. The New Testament Bible occasionally mentioned wealthy
individuals such as Joseph of Arimathaea,
the rich man in Luke 16:1,
Cornelius in Acts 10, Prisca and
Aquila, etc.
However,
positive references to wealth are few in the Bible; references to personal wealth almost always carries some
negative implication. Many statements of Jesus could be viewed as unfair
criticisms of wealth. In Mark 10:23-25,
He said it is extremely difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of
God. In Mark 4:19, He said the
quest for wealth chokes God’s Word. Matthew
6:24 and some other Scriptures says, one cannot serve God and Mammon. In
Luke 21:1-4, a poor widow is
more generous than rich people. 1st
Timothy 6:10 declares that the love of money is the root of all kinds of
evil. To wrap it up, Luke 6:24
concludes by saying “woe to you who are rich”.
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with
goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried
in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
clothed….”
However,
there is a good side to wealth, having material prosperity or being wealthy is
not a ticket to hell after all. God has created an abundance of good things for
human enjoyment, but those who have material wealth should understand the true
nature of earthy riches and acknowledge God as the source of all blessings.
Hence, riches should be thankfully received, and Christians must value Heavenly
riches more than earthly wealth. Those that are wealthy in this world must be
generous to the poor and ensure that their hearts are not set on their wealth.
Finally, in appreciation to God for His blessings, they should devote their
riches to God’s service by sponsoring the gospel and the work of the ministry.
Prayer Point
Father, please send
poverty far away from me and make me a divine treasure.
Bible in one year
Jeremiah 22:11-24:10,
Psalms 50:1-15
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