Tuesday: Words for the Rich
Read 1 John 2:15–17. What are we being warned against here, and how can we protect ourselves from the danger these verses talk about?
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
Though the idea of what it means to be rich
varies greatly, the book of Proverbs comes with some instructions on how to get rich
and then how to deal with your riches
once you get them.
1. Do not get rich at the expense of the poor (Prov. 28:8). Your wealth is not justified if you obtain it at the expense of the poor. As we have already seen, the Bible speaks very strongly against those who exploit the poor for their own gain.
2. Give to the poor (Prov. 28:27). In contrast to the greedy
of Proverbs 28:25 (NIV, literally, broad of soul/appetite
), the person who is generous to the poor will be blessed.
3. Work hard (Prov. 28:19). Wealth should not come as the result of stealing or by chance, but as a reward for our hard work. What is obtained depends on the quality of our labor. If we are rich, we should deserve it.
4. Do not try to get rich fast (Prov. 28:20, Prov. 28:22). Our proverbs present two potential scenarios: (1) when we close an eye to some dishonest action and, as a result, become complicit in that action (Prov. 28:22); (2) when we are so eager to enjoy the wealth of our parents that we rob them of what they need to live now (Prov. 28:24). Even worse, those who do those things can justify the wrong deeds in their own minds until they convince themselves that they have done nothing wrong. Therefore, they say, it is no transgression
(NKJV).
Money is a very powerful force in this world, which is why the Bible talks a lot about it. If, like pretty much everyone else, you desire money, how can you make sure that you are not falling into the trap of what Jesus called the deceitfulness of riches
(Mark 4:19)?
(30)
1 Timothy 6:10 - rather than money itself, it is the love of it that is sin, placing it before God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 - when we aim to Glorify God, the resources required to do so, will be made available to you, be it through blessings of riches, or from donations from others who have the means to give. It is ironic though, the more people have the less they want to give. For some giving one tenth of a 1 million is more challenging than to give a tenth of 1 thousand.
Paul in 1Timothy 6:6 notes that Godliness with contentment is great gain.We are to be content with what we have.This was the teaching of Jesus that each day with take care of its troubles.Most of the time we just spend a lot of time trying to accumulated material things to be much better than the next person.However the man who was the richest man in record, probably valued much over the Forbes list of today, Solomon expounded this when he said "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity" Eccle 5:10.
At the same time we are to be honest that we all want need money, maybe the other extreme view would be pretending not to be interested in money at all.This is a fallacy which should be corrected, the bible does not say money is evil but the love of money is the root of evil.
While we are seek and work for money in ethical and legal means which are in compliance with the standards of God.We are not to idiolise money, We should use money for good causes that is to assist the poor and finance God's work etc.
EGW say that"Money is a trust from God. It is not ours to expend for the gratification of pride or ambition. In the hands of God's children it is food for the hungry, and clothing for the naked. It is a defense to the oppressed, a means of health to the sick, a means of preaching the gospel to the poor. You could bring happiness to many hearts by using wisely the means that is now spent for show. Consider the life of Christ. Study His character, and be partakers with Him in His self-denial.(MH,pg287)
been rich was never the problem at but the way many desires this wealth. In the process of getting rich they abandon anything that have to do with their maker, they promise to come to God latter and when they eventually get the money they easily forget thier promises. These group i called "money first, God latter"
money without God is obviously nothing
I agree with you in regards to the fact that we all need and desire money. To me, the point is that we do not put our desires for money above our desire to seek and please God. God is very intelligent and knows that we need money to conduct business transaction, pay bills, purchase food and clothing, etc. God is commanding that we are good stewards with the resources (money) that He allow us to earn.
The Bible doesn't condemn money itself, what it condemn is the love of it, that is when it becomes a controlling god in our life. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:10 NKJV).
Money isn't even mentioned except, "Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Lk. 20:24-25 NKJV).
When some in the world are seeking new innovative solutions like flying in a solar powered plane...we haven't gone beyond a stalled a yanyo Pioneer Car...what more .....we have taken off in a self powered corruption as never witnessed before...but has now become evident even from the institutions that are meant to put structures to fight it...not a way for a country taking off in the middle income status...The rich using power and money to to all sorts of things,that does not glorify God....how I pray hard to each one of us to Glorify God above all .
Can someone help me uderstand this please? I believe everything the bible says. But instruction #1 says dont get rich at the poor expense. But in this greety world alot are doing that. They are getting rich at poor expense. And they keep prospering like no other. And on the other hand the Bible says that hard working hands will prosper.And hard honest working ordinary Christians dont seem to prosper. Can some help me understand?
Frank, when you have a business, large or small, you generally have people working for you. Again generally, they are not as affluent as you are. It is not a sin to have them work for you even though they are poorer. However, when you enrich yourself "at their expense" it becomes problematic. Throughout the old testament and the new, the counsel to God's people is to not withhold the wages of the worker because they depend on those wages. In addition, you are performing a great service for them in providing employment. It is the abuse of your position of employer that would be frowned upon by God.
Also, there is no great honor in being poor. If opportunity presents itself, seize upon the opportunity from God and advance your situation.
I once had an uncle who had a menial job in a factory. He faithfully carried out his duties day after day for nearly 40 years. Almost weekly the factory would post notices for various jobs that had more responsibility and more pay but he never once signed up to apply. It was as though he felt that being poor was some sort of badge of honor and feared increasing his income.
That, in my opinion, is just as wrong as the other side of the coin because we are rejecting offers from God to better our station in life and our power to assist in His mission in greater ways.
Having money to pay for a housekeeper, a babysitter, a gardener, a valet, a hairdresser, a reliable car, gasoline to travel, medical bills. Financial wealth can make life easier and more bearable than lacking needed resources. A young husband and father of two young children needs money to either pay cash for his cancer treatment or money to pay for his health insurance to pay for his treatments. A mother working two or three jobs needs money to afford a babysitter to watch her children or money in her bank account to be able to stay home with her children and pay for their food, their housing, the heat for their warm bath.
Those with enough money to afford a car to go to medical appts., a housekeeper to allow them to safely recover from hip surgery, a contractor to fix their leaking roof, are often labeled as "rich" because the money they have is more than what someone else has. Money can help meet your needs. Money can make life easier, ask a single mother working three jobs. Money can save a physical life, ask the transplant recipient. The poor in other countries view the poor in America with envy. It has to do a lot with your view point, what hill/valley are you viewing someone else's level of riches from?
I was thinking about our national forest lands the other day and how we are clear cutting all the trees from our forest. I was thinking how we are always over reaching our boundary's for something more than we all ready have. We are saving nothing for our future generations, but continuously consuming. I have heard it said that we are locust or you may even say a cancer cell that knows no end. I don't believe that God has given us resources to be used up in an instant. Shouldn't we leave something over for the gleaners.
I think upon those who fence their gardens from the deer. What if God wants you to plant enough for yourself and them too. Do we believe that God is quite able to reserve enough of your garden for you and your deer? Their is a story in the bible about gathering an omer and sometimes 2 omers, i believe it was for sabbath, and if they gathered more it would decay. We tend to be covetous rather than giving, which leads to idolatry.
I think about death and who's shall those things belong to after death. Have you ever when through the belongings of the deceased who have hoarded everything? By the time you get to it, it worn out and worthless and of valve to no one when it may of helped somebody long ago. It is a sad state of affair, but something worth pondering.
i salute u all guys for ur comments they are all awesome, cheers broz/sis. eric from kenya africa