Be Rich Towards God!

What is this life? What is our purpose, and why did God create us? 

Take a look around you someday and look at how much money and time that people have sunken into the things which they own. Now imagine if instead of possessing all of those things that they decided to be content with the simple things of life, and use the rest of their time to serve God. Instead of working for a year to pay off their car payments they could have spent that year teaching the word of God. They could have spent time helping others.

Take note of how the Lord lived, as well as the lives of His apostles. Were they focused on storing up money, treasures or other worldly possessions for themselves? No. They lived simply and instead of trying to acquire money and possessions while on the Earth.

But you see that is what so many people have gotten all wrong. They feel that they haven’t “made it” in this life if they don’t have a giant beautiful house, a wardrobe filled with expensive fine clothing, and all of the other things that the world has to offer. 

Luke 12:13-21  “And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

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.

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.”

Look to John the Baptist as well. Look at the simple life that he lived. As Jesus told His disciples, those who were gloriously clothed lived in king’s courts, but John was clothed with camel’s hair. John didn’t have a gigantic mansion to live in, but God took care of him. He may not have had riches and wealth while on this Earth but he certainly will in Heaven, because that is where he stored his riches at.

Now, this is not to say that money cannot be used for good and to help others, because it can. There are many people who have enough money to start a business just to help provide jobs for those in need of employment. Yes, money can be used to fulfill one’s own desires and to please oneself, but it can also be used in several different ways to help others. It just depends on the usage of it. 

Money, wealth, riches and treasures–these things are all temporary. There is nothing that you can gain during your lifetime that you will be able to take with you when you die. I have read about how some of the pharaoh’s of Egypt had been buried with their gold and treasure, with the belief that they would have it in the afterlife. But all that you can see on this Earth will remain on this Earth. If you want to have treasure in heaven then you need to spend your time now preparing, storing it up for that day.

The Earth and all in it will not last forever, so why spend so much time trying to get it? Do you want to know a wise use of your time? Don’t be concerned with what you can get now, but be focused on the treasures that will last you forever. Live your life for the Lord and lay up your treasure in heaven! Be rich towards God!

In Christ,

Andrew