DOES JESUS WANT YOU TO BE RICH?
( by brother Tarran Dookie)
WHAT DID JESUS AND THE APOSTLES TEACH ABOUT RICHES?
Matt 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus makes a distinction between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures. The Lord would have us focus on heavenly treasures. If you are taken up with the riches of this world, what you can acquire of this earth’s goods, that is where your heart will be. Your affection will not be on the things above but rather on the things of earth.
Matt 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.
The word ‘mammon’ means riches. You cannot serve God and riches. A choice has to be made. The word of God is choked when the heart is cumbered with the cares of life and riches (see Luke 8:14). Attachment to the riches of this world results in separation from God.
Mark 10:23-25 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 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! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Jas 2:5-7 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
Jesus declared that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. James says God has chosen the poor of this world to be the heirs of the kingdom. The majority of faithful believers belong to the poorer classes. While poor Lazarus entered Paradise when he died, the rich man ended up in hell (see Luke 16:19-31). To aspire after prosperity and riches is a danger to the soul.
Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
In the parable found in Luke 12:16-21 the rich man laid up treasure for himself, and was not rich toward God. He had the wrong view that life consisted in the abundance of the things which he possessed. He trusted in his possessions and not in God. Such a person’s riches are their consolation and reward and they are excluded from the kingdom of God. ‘Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation’ is the warning of the Lord.
Jas 5:1-3 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 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.
In these last days when materialism is so dominant, many worldly and carnally minded preachers are promoting a false gospel of prosperity and riches. The riches of this world will not last. They shall fade away and those who trust in uncertain riches shall see miseries come upon them.
1Tim 6:9-10 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. 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.
What a dire warning from Paul the apostle! Those who desire riches fall into temptation and a snare. The outcome is destruction and perdition. The love of money is a root of all evil and causes people to go astray from the faith, piercing themselves through with many sorrows. Why are some preaching prosperity and ignoring to warn people about the folly and danger of pursuing riches?
GIVING TO GET SOMETHING IN RETURN
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
2Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
The passage in Luke 6:38 is not teaching a doctrine of ‘give to get’. Rather, it is telling us that in the same measure that we give it will be measured back to us. Where a need arises, the Christian must not give grudgingly but cheerfully.
When we give, we must do so hoping for nothing in return. The idea of giving something, hoping for a bounty from God, is a carnal attitude and unbecoming of a Christian. The ‘sowing a seed’ doctrine teaches that when you give financially, God will bless you bountifully, and this will bring about a financial breakthrough in your life. Prosperity preachers say ‘sowing a seed’ means that you give money to their ministry, and God will bless you financially. The sad reality is that while these preachers get rich at the expense of members, those who are conned into giving almost never get wealthy. The false ‘prosperity gospel’ is nothing but sowing to the flesh. Gal 6:7-8 warns us that ‘he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.’
TITHES AND OFFERINGS NOT BINDING ON CHRISTIANS
1Cor 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
In the First apology of Justin, Weekly Worship of the Christians, Ch 68 written around A.D. 150 it is stated that ‘on the day called Sunday after the breaking of bread they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.’
In the early church the collection was only taken upon the first day of the week. The frequent, arbitrary collections on days other than the first day of the week has no support in the Bible.
According to 1Cor 16:1-2 and 2Cor 9:7 the believer is to give according as he purposes in his heart as God has prospered him. Tithes (and associated offerings) were part of the Mosaic law that was nailed to the cross and abolished. Tithes and offerings, being part of the abolished law of Moses, are not binding on Christians. The preachers who promote tithing are generally those who make merchandise of their gullible followers.
GOD PROVIDES
1Tim 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
While a believer may not be rich in this world’s goods, he can rest assured that God will supply all his needs according to His riches in glory. The Christian must not aspire to be rich but should be content with such things as he has, knowing that godliness with contentment is great gain. We can rest in God for He will never leave us, nor forsake us.
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Email contact: tarrandookie53@gmail.com
Website: https://biblestudiesandmessages.wordpress.com
