It's Not Important Whether You're Rich Or Poor

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you rich?

Yes, in GOD's sight I'm blessed.

Are you poor?

Yes, I'm GOD's poor and blessed.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that being rich or poor here on earth does not matter to GOD, what matters to GOD is that you are righteous.

IV. TEXT:

Psalms 62:9 (Amplified Bible)

62:9 Men of low degree [in the social scale] are emptiness (futility, a breath) and men of high degree [in the same scale] are a lie and a delusion. In the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for the discomforts and distresses here on earth for I know I will be with You in heaven and will be comforted. Currently I am blessed by the LORD here on earth.

VI. TITLE:

It's not important whether you're rich or poor

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Authors: Authorship of many is uncertain, generally attributed to King David.

B. Date written: c. 1440 to 450 B.C. ( From Moses to Ezra)

C. Purpose: 150 songs to praise and worship GOD

D. To whom written: Sometimes to GOD, sometimes to author

E. Main Themes: praise and worship, prayer and praise

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Poor men or men of low degree are empty. Rich men or men of high degree are a lie and delusion

"Men of low degree [in the social scale] are emptiness (futility, a breath)"

"and men of high degree [in the same scale] are a lie and a delusion."

Rich men are lie and delusion because their riches are their own punishment, they will die in the midst of their pursuits of money and riches. While believers are being chased by glory and honor.

Psalms 8:5 (Amplified Bible)

8:5 Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

Illustration:

Ask a poor man to go to church with you and he will go with you with no reservations because he's needing help from the LORD. Ask a rich man to go to church with you and you almost know what he will say to you, "Sorry, I'm busy!" "Will going to church make me rich more?"

James 1:9-11 (Amplified Bible)

1:9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God],

1:10 And the rich [person ought to glory] in being humbled [by being shown his human frailty], because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.

1:11 For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.

Isaiah 40:15 (Amplified Bible)

40:15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are counted as small dust on the scales; behold, He takes up the isles like a very little thing.

1 Timothy 3:13 (Amplified Bible)

3:13 For those who perform well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and also gain much confidence and freedom and boldness in the faith which is [founded on and centers] in Christ Jesus.

The degree that JESUS recognizes is our faith founded on and that is centers on Him.

IX. CONCLUSION:

Poor men are empty or vanity and rich men are a lie or delusion. It does not matter to GOD if you're rich or poor, what matters to GOD is you're a believer or righteous. Even poor Lazarus made it to Abraham's bosom while the rich men are tortured in hell.

Luke 16:25-26 (Amplified Bible)

16:25 But Abraham said, Child, remember that you in your lifetime fully received [what is due you in] comforts and delights, and Lazarus in like manner the discomforts and distresses; but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.

16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who want to pass from this [place] to you may not be able, and no one may pass from there to us.

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for the discomforts and distresses here on earth for I know I will be with You in heaven and will be comforted. Currently I am blessed by the LORD here on earth.

Romans 3:4 (Amplified Bible)

3:4 By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, That You may be justified and shown to be upright in what You say, and prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].

Psalms 40:15 (Amplified Bible)