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Riches
Num 33:50-53, 55,56
(50) And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
(51) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
(52) Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
(53) And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.
(55) But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
(56) Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
It is imperative that we understand that in order for the Israelites to take possession of the land promised to the children of God, THEY had to meet a condition. All the promises of God are conditional (if... then...). This Israelites NEEDED to drive out all the inhabitants of the land, destroy ALL their pictures, ALL their molten images, and ALL their high places. There is no doubt that these three represent idolatry.
As it was in the days of the Old Covenant, these conditional promises are for us under the banner of the New Covenant. If we are to obtain the promises of God, we MUST drive out the ALL "foreign inhabitants"; destroying ALL idolatry that has been erected. The difference is, these "inhabitants", "pictures", "molten images", and "high places" are all symbols of idolatry in ones own heart. Idolatry is spiritual adultery in the eyes of the Lord. Idolatry is similar to all, but uniquely different for each individual. Therefore, each individual must get in their "closet" with the Lord and seek conviction for what needs to be zealously repented of (Rev. 3:19).
The focus of this study will be the idol of riches.
(Parallel passages: Mat 19:16-24 ; Luk 18:18-25)
Mar 10:17-24
(17) And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
(18) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
(19) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
(20) And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
(21) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
(22) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
(23) And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
(24) And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Did you notice that when Jesus listed a summary of the "commandments" (ten commandments), one of those that He did not mention was the first? The first commandment was this rich young ruler's idol. The riches of the world that this man had acquired were great and he could not part from them in order to follow Jesus, even though he had kept the rest (he wasn't corrected by Jesus for believe that either).
Here then is an account given to us all as a warning, but targeting "the rich". Beware... because inherent in having the riches of the world is the temptation of having them be an idol that you will find it difficult to part from.
Did you know that Jesus taught us to be wise enough to have rich friends?
Luk 16:1-13
(1) And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
(2) And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
(3) Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
(4) I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
(5) So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
(6) And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
(7) Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
(8) And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
(9) And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
(10) He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
(11) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
(12) And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
(13) No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
This parable of the rich man and his unjust steward was not a parable of the kingdom like many others (where the Lord or the Master is actually God etc.), at least in my humble opinion.
The unjust steward, who wasted his master’s goods, was put out of the stewardship because the master recognized that he was unjust. He wasn’t retained because of his wisdom. He was only commended by the Master because he had made a remedy/refuge for himself knowing he was going to be put out. By obtaining from the master's debtors a portion of what they owed the Master, the unjust steward did two important things:
Appease the master, somewhat, and…
Have people to go to after he was put out of the stewardship
The unjust steward thought ahead and made provision for himself knowing the outcome. Not only did the master commend him, but Jesus used the parable to simply highlight the wisdom that the man exemplified.
Hence, Jesus says, “…for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Then Jesus points out and concludes with some very important points, by statement or rhetorical question, to take from the parable:
Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. (make friends with the rich, they may be your refuge in your time of trouble having either pity on you, or because at once in the past you helped them out, and they will feel obligated to help you out)
Principle: if you are faithful with a little, you will be faithful when given much; if you are unjust with a little, you will be unjust when given much.
If you haven’t been faithful with the riches of the world, who will entrust to you greater and weightier riches of heaven?
If you don’t take care of someone else’s belongings, why would anyone spend to give you your own belongings?
You can’t serve God and the riches of the world.
There's nothing wrong with being rich, but inherent in being rich is the temptation to fall away quite easily through the deceitfulness of riches.
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Riches of the Kingdom - True Riches |
Riches of the World – Uncertain Riches |
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Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Eph 3:8-10 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (9) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Eph 1:18-19 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Eph 3:16-17 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Full of promises |
Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Mat 13:22 - Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Rev 18:16-17 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! (17) For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Full of warnings |
1Ki 3:12-13 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. (13) And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
Remember when Solomon was asked to ask whatever he wanted, he decided on wisdom... the Lord then gave Him wisdom, followed by what he had not asked for... riches and honour.
What does the Lord knows about us, that we don’t know about ourselves...?
Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Deu 8:11-17 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: (12) Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; (13) And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; (14) Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; (15) Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; (16) Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; (17) And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
These scriptures highlight why the Lord hesitates to bless His saints with great earthly wealth... man tends to glory in his riches (just as the Israelites did) and man tends to lift up his heart against the Lord, forgetting the Lord and all He has done to deliver us, save us, provide for us, a leads us in the paths of righteousness. We tend to say, "My power, wisdom, and strength is what has gotten me where I am today!"
James confirms the Lord's warning in his lone epistle.
Jas 1:14-15
(14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
(15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Jas 5:1-5
(1) Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
(2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
(3) Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
(4) Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
(5) Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Jesus continues to speak of this when he addresses the Laodicean church:
Rev 3:15-17
(15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
(16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Their riches led to their complacency with God and the deceitfulness of riches led them to believe that they were rich, with many things, and didn't need anything. But the spiritual reality was that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked... the complete opposite and without their repentance they would be rejected (spit out of His mouth).
Paul would even warn his spiritual son as he ministered in Ephesus.
1Ti 6:6-14, 17-19
(6) But godliness with contentment is great gain.
(7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
(8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
(9) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
(10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
(11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (KINGDOM OF GOD – FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT)
(12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(13) I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
(14) That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(18) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; (be sociable/ready to share and impart)
(19) Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Let us heed the words of warning from many beloved saints and with fear and trembling, act accordingly.
© copyright 2010 Jesus M. Ruiz