2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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THE RICH FOOL – IS ABUNDANCE SINFUL?
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Luke 12:13-21
Memory verse: Luke 12:15
“…for a man’s life consisteth
not in the abundance of
the things which he possesseth.”
THE RICH FOOL – IS ABUNDANCE SINFUL?
If a man works hard diligently and honestly, is it wrong to have an abundance of material things? God blessed His servants like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and King David with much material wealth. If being wealthy is a sin, then God would become a sinner.
God created the world. God created everything in the world for man’s enjoyment. The world has no intrinsic value in terms of real wealth. It is just a wonderful world for man’s food and pleasure. The problem is not in the world, for the world cannot sin, but man can, and do sin. Therefore, having abundance of material things, man foolishly believes he is wealthy and more successful than his fellow men. Such notions of better or greater material wealth are like two men comparing nothing with nothing! Man has forgotten that naked he came into the world, naked he will leave. Just because he can eat “better” food than his neighbour, does not make him richer or better. It just gives him more choices in what he eats. For him to feel great about himself because he has more choices in life is myopic. Soon, he will die like everyone else. Where will he be?
Man’s attitude toward the world has changed. Before man became a sinner, he saw the world with innocent eyes. He enjoyed the world God had created for him with no desire for ownership or greed. The world was like a garden where man could find food and drink for perfect pleasure without experiencing sin. However, when sin entered, man could no longer look at the world and enjoy it as he used to. The world has become a place that reveals man’s sinful nature and desires. Man’s greed and wicked deeds against other men centre on the things of the world. Take the past empires of man, for they are all defined by the size of their influence and ownership, ignoring the tens of thousands of souls killed, lives ruined, and families destroyed.
Abundance is not a sin in itself, but when sinful man measures himself by his abundance, he has sinned against his own soul. He is motivated by the love of money, which is the root of all evil.
THOUGHT: Am I motivated by salary, i.e. the love of money?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me never to take my eyes away from Christ and seek only all things eternal, for Christ’s sake. Amen.