GOD HAS NOTHING GOOD TO
SAY TO THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS, BUT STORE UP WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES
ALONE
Matthew 6:24
(No man 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.)
Matthew 6:19-21
(“Do not [which
is properly translated “STOP STORING”] store up FOR YOURSELVES for treasures on
earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES treasures in
heaven, where moths and vermin do
not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.)
Zeph. 1:18
(Neither their silver nor their gold shall be
able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's
wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he
shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.)
Matthew 19:23-30
(Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the
disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be
saved?”
Jesus
looked at them and said, “With man
this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter
answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus
said to them, “Truly I
tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his
glorious throne, you who
have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel. And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as
much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be
first.)
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
(Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?)
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?)
Proverbs 23:5
(Cast but a glance at
riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.)
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.)
Ezekiel 7:19-20
( “‘They
will throw their silver into the streets,
and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean.
Their silver and gold
will not be able to deliver them
in the day of the Lord’s wrath.
It will not satisfy their hunger
or fill their stomachs,
for it has caused them to stumble into sin.
They took pride in their beautiful jewelry
and used it to make their detestable idols.
They made it into vile images;
therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them.)
and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean.
Their silver and gold
will not be able to deliver them
in the day of the Lord’s wrath.
It will not satisfy their hunger
or fill their stomachs,
for it has caused them to stumble into sin.
They took pride in their beautiful jewelry
and used it to make their detestable idols.
They made it into vile images;
therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them.)
Mark 4:19
(but the worries of
this life, the DECEITFULNESS OF WEALTH and the desires for other things come in
and choke the word, making it unfruitful.)
Luke 18:18-23; Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31
(A certain ruler asked him,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do
you call me good?” Jesus
answered. “No one is
good—except God alone. You know
the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you
shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and
mother.’[a]”
“All
these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
When
Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to
the poor,and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When he
heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.)
Luke 6:24
(“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.)
for you have already received your comfort.)
2 Corinthians 9:11
(You will be enriched in every way SO THAT YOU CAN BE GENEROUS ON
EVERY OCCASION, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.)
1 Timothy 6:17-19
(Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 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.)
++++++++++++
PROVERBS
3:27
[Do
not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to
act.]
(DUE,
H1167: owner, husband, lord, master)
Let
us consider the commentary of Adam Clarke (1760-1832) on (Prov.3:27):
(WITHHOLD
NOT GOOD FROM THEM TO WHOM IT IS DUE
- from the lords of it. But who are they? The poor.
And what art thou, O rich man? Why, thou art a steward, to whom God has given
substance that thou mayest divide with the poor. They are the right owners of
every farthing thou hast to spare from thy own support, and that of thy family;
and God has given the surplus for their sakes. Dost thou, by hoarding up this
treasure, deprive the right owners of their property? If this were a civil
case, the law would take thee by the throat, and lay thee up in prison; but it
is a case in which God alone judges. And what will he do to thee? Hear! “He shall have judgment without
mercy, who hath showed no mercy;” Jas_2:13.
Read, feel, tremble, and act justly.)
++++++++++++
Brethren, we are no longer
the masters of whatever God has given us beyond the satisfaction of our NEEDS;
prayerfully, it must be shared with deserving Christians who are wanting in
food, clothing, the sick, and those in prison for their faith.
This
simply means that our money is not our own; that beyond the satisfaction of our
needs and that of our family’s, whatever is in our possession is no longer
ours, but, instead are owned by other deserving Christians who are in need.
This is a command, and
failure to comply to what God has ordered will lead to dire consequences.
