Grab Life! Series

If you want to grab a hold of the life that is truly life, then 1st, grab tomorrow by living for eternity; 2nd, guard your love for God today; and 3rd, if you want to really live, then…

GIVE AWAY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

Be generous and share all that you dare.

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. (NIV)

If you want to really live, then don’t acquire wealth as a status symbol. Don’t let your money become a source of pride. Verse 17 says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant…”

For many people, Their wealth is a source of pride. Their significance is defined by their material possessions, and they openly display their affluence so that others will know how important they are.

In the story of Pollyanna, there is a woman who runs the town. She’s not the mayor and doesn’t even sit on the city council. It’s just that she has inherited a tremendous amount of money from her father, and she has a controlling interest in all the major businesses in town. As a result, no one wants to cross her for fear of losing their jobs.

She even tells the preacher what to preach every Sunday; and for four years, he allowed himself to be swayed by her opinions. After all, she was a major contributor, but it nearly destroyed the church. Then the preacher meets a little girl, Pollyanna, who tells him, “No one owns the church,” and it brings him to his knees.

It’s a glorious moment in the story when the pastor dares to say what he feels God wants him to say even though it crosses the woman. There is a scowl on her face, but a new spirit in the church as they are set free to follow the Lord.

There are those who think their money gives them a right to be heard & to tell everybody what to do, even in the church. Well, let me tell you: There is only One Person in charge. That’s the Lord, and those who have money need to submit to Him instead of expecting others to submit to them.

If you want to really live, don’t acquire wealth for status, and don’t acquire wealth as a means of security either. Don’t depend on your money to keep you safe and free from harm.

Verse 17 says, “[Don’t] put [your] hope in wealth, which is so uncertain.” It is here today and gone tomorrow.

That certainly has become very evident in the last two years with the longest and worst recession we’ve had since the Great Depression. A lot of people lost their jobs, and many saw their retirement accounts and investments reduced by as much as 40% or more. But there was one lady who must have felt very secure when banks around the world failed and the financial markets tanked. She actually slept on her wealth every night.