Thursday, November 3, 2016

A Perspective On Riches


UV 2112/10000 A Perspective on Riches
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
I Timothy 6 v 17

This uni-verse warns those who are wealthy not to think themselves superior to others. Neither are they to place their trust in their wealth as the riches of this world are uncertain in how long these will last and how it will end. Instead, our trust ought to be in the living God who supplies all our need- spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social, physical – according to His abundant generousity and grace. This scripture warns us of the dangers of our shifting our faith from the presence of God to His presents. The love of riches can ensnare our hearts and keep us from growing in faith and in the fruit of the spirit. We begin to think that riches of this world insure us against bad times. It can purchase us whatever we require for our advancement. Our reliance on the grace of the Lord reduces to the point we cease to trust God in our lives.

Our focus should not be on the blessings the Lord has given us but on the Giver. Many men and women of God who in their early life trusted the Lord begin to unknowingly place their entire confidence in their stature, their connections, their possessions as they are inevitably blessed over time. This lead to a sense of pride if not arrogance and accompanying errors, follies and wilful acts that spoil their testimonies and their relationship with God and people. Their dependence on the Lord will correspondingly come down. The Lord gives us all things richly so that we enjoy them but He does not want us to give priority in our lives to these things.

There is much wisdom in the prayer mentioned in the book of Proverbs, “Lord, do not make me so rich that I forget you and do not need you. Do not make me so poor that I curse my life. “ The golden mean is finding our sufficiency in the Lord, to be contented with whatever He has given us. We do not have to stretch out our hands to others in our need. At the same time, we have enough to extend help to others after meeting our own need.

Prateep V Philip

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