Scripture
teaches important principles about trusting God, not riches, and willingly
sharing our blessings in God's work in order to please Him, help others, and be
rewarded eternally.Scripture
teaches important principles about trusting God, not riches, and willingly
sharing our blessings in God's work in order to please Him, help others, and be
rewarded eternally.1 Timothy 6:17-19 – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Compared to other people in the world, most Americans are wealthy. But whether or not we are wealthy, these verses teach important principles about material possessions. We learn:
Proverbs 23:5 – Riches make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Psalm 62:10 – If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Jeremiah 9:23 – Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches.”
People tend to trust riches to provide far more than they are really able to provide. But the Bible warns that they are easily lost so we should not put our trust in them.
(1 Timothy 6:7)
Acts 17:25 – He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…
Deuteronomy 8:17,18 – We should not say that our own power has gotten us wealth. God gives the power to get wealth.
If riches are uncertain, and God is the giver of all that is good, why should we trust in the riches instead of God?
(1 Chronicles 29:12,14,16)
God gives all good things, but He gives them for a purpose. The passage says it is acceptable to enjoy possessions. But it is more important to use them to accomplish the purpose of God. This means use them to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.
Isaiah 32:8 – A generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.
Hebrews 13:16 – Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Proverbs 3:9 – Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.
God gives us possessions, not just to meet our needs, but so we can be rich in good works, giving and sharing.
Those who properly use their possessions store up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Luke 12:20,21 – God said to the rich farmer, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Sharing our possessions generously and willingly for good works is essential to eternal life.\
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2020; gospelway.com
Local churches and individuals may, within limits, distribute this Bible study guide for free, but not for sale. Web sites may link to this page but not reproduce it. Click here for more information about our copyright guidelines.
gospelway.com - Return to the Gospel Way home page.
Please bookmark our site in your favorites.
We welcome links to us from other sites :
gospelway.com
- The Gospel Way: Free Bible Study Materials & Guides
Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.