I. EXORDIUM:
Are you a rich fool?
No. I'm rich because of CHRIST.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you are becoming progressively acquainted with {and} recognizing more strongly {and} clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers/unbelievers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that riches in this world are nothing if they are gained by unjust means.
IV. TEXT:
Jeremiah 17:11 Like the partridge that gathers a brood which she did not hatch {and} sits on eggs which she has not laid, so is he who gets riches by unjust means {and} not by right. He will leave them, {or} they will leave him, in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool.
V. THESIS:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You are the Blessor and the Blessing of GOD in my life, only You will satisfy. You are the Riches with no sorrow, You are the Pearl of Great Price.
HALLELUJAH!!
VI. TITLE:
Riches Of A Fool
VII. EXPLICATION:
A.Contents: Sign of the unmarried prophet, concluded. Message in the gates concerning the Sabbath.
B. Characters: God, Jeremiah.
C. Conclusion: The heart of man, out of communion with God, is wicked and deceitful above all things. Those who have wedded themselves to sin invite God’s judgments upon their own heads. There is only disappointment and vexation for those who depend upon the arm of flesh instead of God, but those who by faith derive strength and grace from God will be enabled to do that which will redound to God’s glory, the benefit of others and their own account.
D. Key Word: Jer_17:1.
E. Strong Verses: Jer_17:5, Jer_17:7, Jer_17:9, Jer_17:10.
F. Striking Facts: Jer_17:5. Those who trust to their own righteousness and strength, thinking to get salvation without the merit and grace of Christ, thus make flesh their arm and fail of God’s salvation.
Taken from Summarized Bible
Hashtags: #fool #rich #proud #riches #unrighteous
All bible quotations are taken from the (Amplified Bible).
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VIII. MAIN BODY:
Jeremiah 17:11 Like the partridge that gathers a brood which she did not hatch {and} sits on eggs which she has not laid, so is he who gets riches by unjust means {and} not by right. He will leave them, {or} they will leave him, in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool.
A. Riches of a fool are like brood gathered by a partridge.
"Like the partridge that gathers a brood which she did not hatch {and} sits on eggs which she has not laid, so is he who gets riches by unjust means {and} not by right."
We learned from the bible that partridge are strange birds that feeds and nurtures a brood that is not her own. It's also a bird that sits on eggs that she has not laid. Useless love. So is the love of money, it's useless love.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray {and} have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.
First, why love money if it's not yours? It's GOD's! Love the LORD GOD, because He has all the riches in this world. But don't make that your motivation, but instead make the love of GOD your motivation.
Jeremiah 5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit {and} treachery; therefore they have become great and grown rich,
Jeremiah 5:28 They have grown fat {and} sleek. Yes, they surpass in deeds of wickedness; they do not judge {and} plead with justice the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.
Jeremiah 22:13 Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his [upper] chambers by injustice, who uses his neighbor's service without wages and does not give him his pay [for his work],
Jeremiah 22:17 But your eyes and your heart are only for your covetousness {and} dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, for oppression and doing violence.
Proverbs 1:18 But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
Proverbs 1:19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors.
That's why even at work, I rest my faith in GOD'S Power and not in men's wisdom, so it's light, quick and easy for me.
1 Corinthians 2:5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden {and} overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
What are unjust riches in the bible or riches gotten by unjust means?
1. The one who get this unjust riches have their eyes and heart set on covetousness, shedding innocent blood, oppression and violence.
Jeremiah 22:17 But your eyes and your heart are only for your covetousness {and} dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, for oppression and doing violence.
Proverbs 1:18 But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
2. No life at all
Proverbs 1:19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors.
3. These riched are not earned.
Proverbs 13:11 Wealth [not earned but] won in haste {or} unjustly {or} from the production of things for vain {or} detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].
4. It brings trouble to the owner.
Proverbs 15:27 He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
5. Excessive interest
Proverbs 28:8 He who by charging excessive interest {and} who by unjust efforts to get gain increases his material possession gathers it for him [to spend] who is kind {and} generous to the poor.
6. Get rich quick schemes
Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost] shall not go unpunished.
7. Merciless bribe
Isaiah 1:23 Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes and runs after compensation {and} rewards. They judge not for the fatherless {nor} defend them, neither does the cause of the widow come to them [for they delay or turn a deaf ear].
Ezekiel 22:12 In you they have accepted bribes to shed blood; you have taken [forbidden] interest and [percentage of] increase, and you have greedily gained from your neighbors by oppression {and} extortion and have forgotten Me, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 22:13 Behold therefore, I have struck My hands together at your dishonest gain which you have made and at the blood which has been in the midst of you.
8. Stored violence and robbery in their strongholds.
Amos 3:10 For they know not how to do right, says the Lord, they who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.
Habakkuk 2:6 Shall not all these [victims of his greed] take up a taunt against him and in scoffing derision of him say, Woe to him who piles up that which is not his! [How long will he possess it?] And [woe to him] who loads himself with promissory notes for usury!
Habakkuk 2:7 Shall [your debtors] not rise up suddenly who shall bite you, exacting usury of you, and those awake who will vex you [toss you to and fro and make you tremble violently]? Then you will be booty for them.
Habakkuk 2:8 Because you [king of Babylon] have plundered many nations, all who are left of the people shall plunder you--because of men's blood and for the violence done to the earth, to the city and all the people who live in each city.
Habakkuk 2:9 Woe to him who obtains wicked gain for his house, [who thinks by so doing] to set his nest on high that he may be preserved from calamity {and} delivered from the power of evil!
Habakkuk 2:10 You have devised shame to your house by cutting off {and} putting an end to many peoples, and you have sinned against {and} forfeited your own life.
Habakkuk 2:11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall [built in sin, to accuse you], and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it [agreeing with its charge against you].
Habakkuk 2:12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood and establishes a city by iniquity!
That's why to cleanse all of these, one needs to return to GOD tithes and offering so the rest of the money are sacred and set apart for GOD'S Holy use. As a family, that's how we protect ourselves from the devourer. That is via tithes and offering.
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your capital {and} sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Malachi 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:12 And all nations shall call you happy {and} blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
B. Riches of a fool becomes useless.
"He will leave them, {or} they will leave him, in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool."
Psalms 55:23 But You, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in, lean on, {and} confidently rely on You.
Proverbs 23:5 Will you set your eyes upon wealth, when [suddenly] it is gone? For riches certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
Ecclesiastes 5:13 There is a serious {and} severe evil which I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt.
Don't envy rich men without GOD, what they are keeping for themselves greedily will bring hurt to them.
Ecclesiastes 5:14 But those riches are lost in a bad venture; and he becomes the father of a son, and there is nothing in his hand [with which to support the child].
Ecclesiastes 5:15 As [the man] came forth from his mother's womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; and he will take away nothing for all his labor which he can carry in his hand.
Ecclesiastes 5:16 And this also is a serious {and} severe evil--that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what gain has he who labors for the wind?
Why? Because wealth in the form of money or physical riches are intended to bless other people on earth. It is for earth's use only and in Heaven you don't need any money, because you can buy things in Heaven for free. So therefore, spend and consume money here on earth. Make sure you consume it for yourselves - all your needs and wants covered and bless others with the remaining. That's how it will always be with money. While here on earth, we are blessed with so much money so that we can bless others,
Isaiah 55:1 WAIT {and} listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].
2 Timothy 3:2 For people will be lovers of self {and} [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money {and} aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud {and} arrogant {and} contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy {and} profane.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your character {or} moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you {nor} give you up {nor} leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless {nor} forsake {nor} let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
Revelation 3:18 Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined {and} tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.
Proverbs 23 : 23 Buy the truth and sell it not; not only that, but also get discernment {and} judgment, instruction and understanding.
Psalms 21:6 For You make him to be blessed {and} a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence.
Why does the riches of a fool called useless?
1. Fool's riches will leave it's owner
2. The owner of a fool's rich will become a fool himself.
Let's discuss:
1. Fool's riches will leave it's owner
Proverbs 23:5 Will you set your eyes upon wealth, when [suddenly] it is gone? For riches certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
Why? It's because it's not his own, it's GOD's. He forgot to sanctify these unrighteous riches before GOD. How? By returning it to GOD in the form of tithes and offering.
Because these belong to GOD, then it needs to be in GOD's house, returned to GOD's House.
Malachi 3:9 You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation.
Illustration: Years ago, we are richer, and by vision and dreams, I was able to determine a gift for GOD, that old, antique piano, which still plays during those days is the offering, but my parents withold it from GOD, guess what? The whole house we had before burned, because it housed the "cursed" piano. The whole house went up in smoke. The riches are all burned up in a smoke. These riches that are not dedicated to GOD are burned up.
The spiritual rule is every time you earned money (from righteous labors) from your work or business, you offer the firstfruits of it to GOD so GOD can cleanse the remainder for your use, holy and sacred use, that will glorify Him and make you rich with no trouble or sorrow with it.
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your capital {and} sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;
ILLUSTRATION:
JESUS is the FirstFruit of all GOD'S creation. For all mankind to be cleansed (while still alive), the firstfruit has to be offered to GOD, first things first. CHRIST JESUS our Saviour was offered to GOD in the cross of Calvary. That's how it is. Now all GOD's creation are cleansed by CHRIST's body and blood, the rest of the creation are cleansed, until we are living. Grace is available and given to all.
That's why we can explain, why some unbelievers are richer than believers, because like us, they are also experiencing GOD'S Grace, the only difference is in the life of unbelievers they are not acknowledging GOD for His Grace. Nevertheless, since it's grace, it continues to flow from GOD. The believer, on the other hand, is acknowledging GOD in everything with thanksgiving. Now when the unbeliever dies, since he thrown away the mortality (body) and replaced it with immortality (soul), since in this life, he never acknowledged the LORD JESUS and accepted the LORD JESUS as LORD and SAVIOR, then the unbeliever will go straight to hell. Why? Because GOD'S Grace is only available to mortals. See angels are immortals, spirit being and not mortal. That's why when the enemy, the devil, sinned by pride, he never experienced GOD'S Grace, because he is immortal. Angels are immortal, spirit beings that can never experience GOD'S Grace, it's foreign for them. The only way they can understand but not experience GOD'S Grace is by watching us "how" we cope through life. Well, some demons are unruly, they try to possess people's body to experience GOD'S Grace, but they can't experience it still. That's why another mortal is used by GOD to send His Gospel to another mortal, never an angel who can't undertand grace. Mortal mankind on the other hand, can't undertand grace as well, but nevertheless, we continue to experience GOD's Grace.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But the fact is that Christ (the Messiah) has been raised from the dead, and He became the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death].
1 Corinthians 15:23 But each in his own rank {and} turn: Christ (the Messiah) [is] the firstfruits, then those who are Christ's [own will be resurrected] at His coming.
If you are already rich when you became a believer, then return to GOD, make sure to return the tithes and offering to GOD, then pray for your wealth to be used by GOD mightily on GOD'S Kingdom, for the furtherance of it. You can use your wealth to sponsor ministries in bulk, build a local church building, sponsor GOD'S workers and GOD'S messengers. You can do that and these will assure you in the first step that you've done, tithes and offering (seed), your wealth will not be devoured from you. In fact, GOD will rebuke the devourer. If you are still full of pride, just keeping your wealth or riches for yourself, then be warned that what you keep for yourself was already cursed by GOD. Woe to men who are cursed by men, but by this time, GOD'S curse is upon you. Get committed to a local church that practices and preaches GOD'S WORDS in it's entirety and be doers of GOD'S WORDS. I'm sure in that local church as well you are a committed member of are lots of opportunities for you to become a blessing.
Malachi 3:9 You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation.
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.
Then these riches which are already GOD'S will never leave you, in fact, it has gone way ahead of you in Heaven. That's GOD'S Promise not mine.
Matthew 6:19 Do not gather {and} heap up {and} store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust {and} worm consume {and} destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.
Matthew 6:20 But gather {and} heap up {and} store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust {nor} worm consume {and} destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;
Be a blessing to someone else by giving, by a foundation that helps people, not a foundation that earns money because it has no tax or less tax, but a foundation that will bless GOD'S creature.
Now let's discuss:
2. The owner of a fool's rich will become a fool himself.
Think of king Solomon, his examples,
1 Kings 10:23 So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom (skill).
2 Chronicles 1:11 God replied to Solomon, Because this was in your heart and you have not asked for riches, possessions, honor, {and} glory, or the life of your foes, or even for long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may rule {and} judge My people over whom I have made you king,
2 Chronicles 9:22 King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
Take a look it's GOD'S testimony Himself that king Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in his riches and wisdom, but later on, he never obeyed GOD, fully and completely but gathered 700 wives and 300 concubines for himself, then this happened in his old years. His wives turned away his heart from GOD.
1 Kings 11:3 He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, and his wives turned away his heart from God.
As the richest king, king Solomon forgot to keep a copy of GOD'S covenant for himself tucked in his throne (supposed to be) and that he will read, meditate, memorize and do day and night.
This is what (out of his wisdom) forgot, he forgot to make a copy of the covenant of GOD with Him. It's like, saying can a wise man still fall? Yes, if he forgot GOD.
Deuteronomy 17:18 And when he sits on his royal throne, he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, out of what is before the Levitical priests.
Deuteronomy 17:19 And he shall keep it with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn [reverently] to fear the Lord his God, by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes and doing them,
Deuteronomy 17:20 That his [mind and] heart may not be lifted up above his brethren and that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left; so that he may continue long, he and his sons, in his kingdom in Israel.
But take a look before these rules for the king to follow in all of his days of kingship, he also forgot verse 17.
Deuteronomy 17:17 And he shall not multiply wives to himself, that his [mind and] heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Along with not multiplying wives to himself, he multiplied silver and gold and not became a blessing to all nations as GOD intended it to be. If you are a rich believer, become a blessing first to the household of faith and to other unbelievers who are rich but without GOD.
Galatians 6:10 So then, as occasion {and} opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers].
1 Peter 4:9 Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ's body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).
It doesn't need huge amount of money. When I have my salary, I usually buy cookies and give it to the maintenance that cleans our offices and to the security guards that guards us. I have chosen to be a blessing to these people because they are the ones that can't repay you but GOD will. I do it usually in secrets a bunch of people I gather and we eat at Jollibee or McDonald's that's about it. Simple gathering with eating, and praying first and mentioning to GOD, that GOD will return this to me, for I haven't given it but I planted it.
Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet {or} a reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind.
Luke 14:14 Then you will be blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied), because they have no way of repaying you, and you will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just (upright).
Matthew 6:2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized {and} honored {and} praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me].
Luke 11:41 But [dedicate your inner self and] give as donations to the poor of those things which are within [of inward righteousness] and behold, everything is purified {and} clean for you.
Luke 12:33 Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses {and} handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing {and} inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Then you will no longer be called a fool with riches but you will be called rich in faith and rich in the Kingdom.
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith {and} in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?
IX. CONCLUSION:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You are the Blessor and the Blessing of GOD in my life, only You will satisfy. You are the Riches with no sorrow, You are the Pearl of Great Price.
HALLELUJAH!!
