THE RICH NEED TO BE SPIRITUAL INVESTORS 1 Timothy 6:18-19 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (NIV) Money can put a strangle-hold on the heart of any believer unless they understand that it does not belong to them. God gives as He chooses; we are only trustees and not owners of God’s gifts. Paul told Timothy to insist that those who had possessions fulfilled their spiritual responsibility by investing it for the sake of God’s kingdom. Jesus makes the same point dramatically in the parable of the talents ( Matthew 25:14-30 ): hoarding even a little wealth is a non-investment in the gospel. Yes, those with money may be able to do more for the Lord – good! Let them be urged to do so. Every time we use or share what God has given to us for His glory, we demonstrate that our hope is truly in His eternal life and not in the power and pleasure we can gain from our possessions. Indeed, without sharing and giving, we condemn ourselves to live a sub-standard spiritual life. Such instructions can be hard to give and even harder to receive. But they can also become manipulative tools in the hands of unscrupulous spiritual leaders whose greed spurs them to promise paradise in exchange for full purses. That is a wicked distortion of the truth in these verses. But we also distort the truth if we allow the wealthy to assume that their possessions belong to them. So pray for your leaders that they will rightly and wisely teach these truths from God’s Word: and also that those with resources will find joy in growing spiritually as they invest God’s gifts. Let us do this for the sake of God and not for the sake of popularity and recognition. Prayer: Loving Father. Thank You for giving me so much to invest in Your kingdom, enabling my family and others to live and work to Your praise and glory. Forgive me for the habit of hoarding and not using Your gifts, and for a mean spirit which refuses to be generous. Please help me to hold Your gifts for You and use them wisely for the extension of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:43:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015