There are four distinct groups of persons in this world. The Godly Wealthy (GW), the Wicked Wealthy (WW), the Godly Poor (GP) and the Wicked Poor (WP). All of us have at least two choices. We can all chose to be a GP or a WP. Because of circumstances, some of us have four choices. We can choose to be a GW, a WW, a GP or a WP. Today we shall focus on those who have a choice to be any of the four, and you know who you are. Deep down inside, because you have locked yourself into the false teaching that to be Godly you must be Poor, you may have deliberately underutilized the abilities and opportunities that God has given you to be wealthy. If you are in that category, today is a great time to repent, ask God’s forgiveness, and be on your way to becoming a GW. God has never stated nor suggested that poverty is a blessing. He has said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”, but never, “Blessed are the poor”. He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness” Never has He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst”. On the contrary, of the almost 300 occurrences of the word “blessed” used both as a noun and a verb, they all refer to material and/or spiritual prosperity, or at least, increase. No where does God bless anyone with poverty. So if this applies to you, get out of your comfort zone. Find another reason or excuse for being poor. It is not a blessing from God. God takes full credit for the blessing of wealth, and admonishes us to give Him all the credit and all the glory. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Job understood it. Abraham thrived on it. Joseph saved a whole nation through it. And at the very lowest and most basic level, Paul exhorts that we should work to acquire enough for our needs, and to be in a position to give and share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28 & 1Timothy 6:18) The Federal Government and numerous institutions and individuals have understood and applied the Biblical principles of capitalism for the Acquisition of wealth. Unfortunately, the capitalist model falls down on the principles of Distribution of wealth. In Luke 19 and Matthew 25 Jesus tells a story of three persons who were given money with which to trade and invest. The owner of the money was expecting a return on his investment (ROI), and treated with highest honor and reward, the servant who achieved the highest ROI. The servant who refused to invest the master’s money was described as wicked and was punished. Then comes the chilling spiritual socio-economic principle by which we all must live, whether we believe it, or like it or not. “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29; Luke 19:26) With the full backing of the Bible, it is now safe to say that the expansion of the Kingdom of God on earth requires wealth. Your local fellowship and missionaries away from home need your prayers and your money. Let’s put it bluntly. The GP’s can pray, and that’s great. But the GW’s can pray and provide money… and please don’t get technical… the widow’s mite unleashes a great blessing on the widow. It does nothing for the $1,000,000.00 budget of the overseas missionary. I must abbreviate and conclude. There are two potential pitfalls. Some persons consciously try to manipulate God by using Godliness as a means of acquiring wealth. Such persons are evil and we must withdraw from them (1 Timothy 6:5). There are other persons who believe that it is exclusively through their abilities and efforts that they have acquired wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:11-17). Avoiding these two pitfalls are part of the success formula of the GW’s and even some of the WW’s. And please do not forget that in his charge to Timothy, not only did Paul rightly warn of the potential perils of wealth, but he also gave instructions to the GW’s in the Kingdom. “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.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19) Who are you? Are you a GW, GP, WW or WP? Which one does God want you to be? Our Daily Bread Doctor-perspective
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 07:14:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015