riches

Philippians 3:3-14

When I was younger…at one time I was younger!  I spent all my life basically landlocked, but now I had moved to Hawaii. One of the things that 

I learned to do that I loved was to body surf. The learning curve was difficult and often painful. Having only encountered very small waves and almost nonexistent undertow of the East Coast, Waimea Bay and Sandy Beach were rude awakenings! The key is to “KNOW” what you’re doing. This does not mean to have the knowledge of how to swim and what is water. It means to understand the fullness of what body surfing is…Becoming one with the water, conforming to its movement and speed. If you under shoot the wave you will miss it. If you out swim the wave…Depending where you are; if at Waimea the wave can hold on the bottom of the sea for quite some time; if at Sandy Beach you can literally freefall and face plant in the sand…And even break your neck.  Before we can really appreciate something we need to “know” it.

Jeremiah 9:23-24  Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.

This is a tremendous passage! I will return to Philippians after this, let's finish our fast devos as the booklet guides. I have received so many emails and FB messages that have expressed that these devos have helped in this week of fasting, which is the reason I committed my time to doing these.

God instructs us here where we should...

Probing Proverbs 8:10-11 Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

This is quite a provocative statement when you think about it. I realize that most of us, if we read this in front of others, outwardly we would agree and say “Amen!” That's because it seems like the right thing to say and if I may, the “Christian” thing to say. But how many of us in our heart do not view advice concerning knowledge as more valuable than wealth? In fact, the very last claim is the most provocative. “Nothing you desire can compare with it”. Nothing… NOTHING? That really...

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

Application: The words Paul uses in this text are truly a design by the Lord to make a very important point. The word “rich”is employed throughout the text, but...

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy

Application: It is very difficult living in the world we live in, in the flesh we exist in, and with the eyes that see with such limited vision to not be impressed, influenced or just plain overwhelmed with the riches of this world. It is easy to be duped into believing that...

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 6:9  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Application: Contentment is what we say we want, but sadly too many place the concept of contentment into the financial plateau exclusively. Obvious money is needed to survive in this world unless you are supernaturally supplied for, which God has done and continues to do at times. However, for the most part God uses the things of this world to meet our needs and one of those is money. The mistake takes place when we over emphasize what money can do for us. No doubt creature comforts are supplied by an amble supply of money, but contentment is not...

Here are a few verses that can really be misapplied.  James begins to address how riches in the end are worthless.  Do NOT add to that and say that the rich are worthless and all evil.  God blessed Job with riches, David with riches, and Solomon with riches.  These were not evil people.

James 5:1-6