Are You Ready for the Abundant Riches of God?
Good Morning Friends,
It is not a competition but a personal awakening of love that brings joy and casts out fear. In discovering this treasure of the Kingdom… that God provides all that we need…we discover the greatest truth in all the Bible. Are You Ready for the Abundant Riches of God?
Scripture: Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
1 Timothy 6: 6-19 (NRSV)
Message: If we want something we do not have we probably want something we do not need. God provides for our every need. That is what Paul is teaching Timothy. So we too in our relationships are to accept and enjoy what God has given us but also understand how to be rich in a way that honors God. We must do good things with the blessings God has given us so we can join Him in His generous gift of love. Related to this God wants to change our view of what money is really about. He wants to set our expectation realistically about what it can and cannot do. What we can keep and what we must give away. He wants us to beware of false teachings combined with the love of money. And honestly what a mess we are when it comes to money. If we are truthful, we will admit that we want the hopefulness, happiness, contentment and love that we have come to associate with money. But we also feel the loss, despair, worry, anxiety and disappointment when our expectations are not met. In some ways we cannot live without it and in others we cannot live with it. So how do we create the perfect balance? How do we make more of our lives about giving not getting more? How do we live in the abundance of God? The answer is to put financial decisions in the Lord’s hands. He does not want us in financial bondage with the stress of having too much or too little. The question is how God can use us to meet the needs of those struggling. We need to take the focus off ourselves and put it on Christ where it belongs. Let His Word and His Spirit shape our attitudes and behavior so we may find peace.
Pray we realize that all the excesses of the world will not make up for being in right relationship with God. Pray that we realize that money is a wonderful thing…but that it is possible to pay too high a price for it. Pray we do not drive ourselves mad seeking the wrong treasures. Pray that when it comes to keeping up, that our motivation is to keep up and in step with Jesus. Pray that we find His better way. Pray we find love in the simple things… Pray we know the joy and peace and fulfillment that can only be found in Him. Pray we have godliness and contentment. Pray we have the attitude of gratitude and the strong desire to share. Pray that we know we are created as giving and loving creatures. Pray that we put God first. Pray that we keep God first. Pray that God prosper us and teaches us the right way to give as His stewards. Pray that God bless us for our faithfulness. Pray that we not forget God in our prosperity. Pray that we not develop an arrogance that we deserve the blessings we have received. Pray that we faithfully administer God’s grace with mercy and compassion giving cheerfully…with encouragement…with generosity. Pray that we hope in God and never trust in riches. Pray that our hearts be guarded against the love of money. Pray that we give up all that competes with God for first place.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 