DESIRING TO BE RICH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MARCH 02, 2023.

SUBJECT : DESIRING TO BE RICH!

Memory verse: "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drawn men in destruction and perdition." (First Timothy 6 vs 9.) 

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 6 - 10:

6:6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

6:7: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

6:8: And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

6:9: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drawn men in destruction and perdition.

6:10: 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. 

INTIMATION:

Having riches is being wealthy, having abundant resources. Desiring riches is having lust, passion or strong wish for it. The person who is seeking to be rich will lose the contentment with the basic necessities of life. In their worldly desires, they will lose sight of that which brings spiritual fulfillment. Such ungodly desire makes many to do all that is possible to obtain riches. In so doing, they fall into various temptations, and snares, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which consequently, draw them into destruction and perdition. 

The snare into which they fall is the fact that they lead themselves into believing that if they surround themselves with possessions and involves themselves in activities, they will be happy. Eventually their test for financial influence will bankrupt them spiritually. However, one should never allow the possessions of this world to possess him or her. We have heard about people involving themselves in all kinds of evil to get rich. Eventually, when the reality of the temporary nature of their sojourn on earth as well as their riches dawn on them, remembering that one day they will die leaving all the riches behind, they are sorrowful.

The apostle James clearly describes their situation: “But the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; it’s flowers falls, and it’s beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” (James 1 vs 10 - 11.) Prophet Jeremiah further describes them thus: “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right; it will leave him in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool.” (Jeremiah 17 vs 11.)

Riches mean nothing to God. Our true wealth is in our development of our spiritual life—our relationship with our Creator and others. And that is the only thing we take with us as we depart this earth. Riches are not evil. What is evil is the materialistic heart that is obsessed with obtaining it. Some of us, in our desire to satisfy our test for wealth, have marginalized our relationships with friends, families, and others. The sorrows that they produced through their striving to be rich manifested the error of the greedy motives of their hearts. 

When one focuses his or her life on behaving after the directions of the word of God, one becomes content with life in that his or her purpose of life is not to consume the things of this world upon his or her own lust. In contrast to those who focus on gaining that which is of this world, the godly person will focus on spiritual things that will result in eternal life. In order to acquire the mentality of focusing on spiritual things, one must come to the realization that our passing through this world is too brief to focus on the things of this world. God ordained that the things of this world are to sustain us on our brief stay here in preparation for that which is to come. 

Prayer: Abba Father, in You I put my absolute trust. Give me the grace to lead a life of steadfast pursuit of Your kingdom and righteousness, trusting You to add to me all other things that I need and also are pleasing to You, in Jesus Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

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