God invites us to be rich

 

1.    What does it mean to be “rich”?

2.    How much money is needed to be considered “rich”?

3.    Could a person who is poor ever be rich?

4.    Someone has said a million dollars is not enough to the buy the letter “R” in rich.

5.    Another has said, “there are many ways to become rich, but many more ways to become poor.”

 

WHAT IF SOMEONE SAID TO US, “GOD WANTS US TO BECOME RICH?”  WOULD WE AGREE OR DISAGREE?

 

1.      Our answer is found in 2 Cor. 8:9 – READ

 

2.      When we hear the word “rich,” we may instantly think about money and possessions.

3.      In the New Testament, this is not the sense of rich in 2 Cor. 8.

4.      Paul had in mind “spiritual wealth.”

5.      There are times in life when people realize that riches are not in dollars and cents.

 

6.      Imagine a tornado sweeping through an area; little is left after the destruction.

7.      In the midst of the devastation people find some important photos.

8.      Or, maybe they find a hairbrush that belonged to a loved one who has passed on.

9.      In the rubble might be an inexpensive gift that was given years earlier by one of their children.

10.  On one level we do recognize that riches and wealth do not always come in the form of $ and cents.

 

11.  This is precisely the point the Bible is trying to make in places like 2 Cor. 8.

12.  There is great spiritual wealth, and God invites each one to share in it.

13.  Jesus said in Mt. 6:21 that where our “treasure is,” there will be our “heart.”

14.  We can set our heart on the things of this earth.

15.  Our idea of true wealth can be a big bank account or a stockpile of precious art, gold, etc.

16.  Or, our idea of wealth can take the form of spiritual wealth.

 

17.  The greatest wealth is not physical – it is divine.

18.  The first reason for this is based on duration.

19.  In Mt. 6:19 Jesus said physical treasure is subject to at least three problems.

20.  Some items of value can be damaged by things like moths.

21.  Other items can rust.  If treasure stays intact, a “thief” may steal what we have.

22.  Jesus said we are invited to lay up treasure where these problems do not exist (Mt. 6:20).

23.  In heaven, all treasure is protected.

24.  There we do need to worry about a housing slowdown, a weak dollar, or something else.

 

25.  Heaven is a place that offers a type of “durable protection” for spiritual wealth.

26.  A long time ago this was stated by a wise-man (Prov. 8:18 – READ).

 

27.  When it comes to earthly treasure we know it can fluctuate in value.

28.  At least some who are here have some type of retirement plan.

29.  Chances are some type of report is issued on the money that has been invested.

30.  Perhaps a monthly or quarterly a statement is received by those participating in such a plan.

31.  When a person has invested funds, they hope their statements will always show an increase.

32.  If a report says $5,000 has been invested, a person wants to see their $5,000 go up.

33.  That does not always happen; sometimes there is a decrease.

34.  That $5,000 may drop to $4000 or maybe it will all be lost.

35.  There are no guarantees with investments associated with earthly wealth.

36.  God’s riches are, however, guaranteed.

37.  Mt. 25:34 says a kingdom has been “prepared from the foundation of the world.”

38.  God has not said, “invest with me and hope for a good return.”

39.  Neither is He like a broker who says, “There are no guarantees if you use me.”

40.  Lots of people would like a guaranteed investment --  a “sure thing.”  God says that is available.

41.  The Bible tells us that treasure exists, it is safe, and it will be given to the appropriate people.

42.  Furthermore, the value of this treasure is beyond our ability to fully grasp.

 

43.  With treasure on the earth, we can know what it is worth.

44.  We can know the value of $5,000, $50,000, $500,000 or 5 million dollars.

45.  We can put a price on virtually anything that man values.

46.  God tells us the heavenly treasure is above our ability to fully comprehend – Eph. 3:8 – READ

47.  God has many good things for His people after they leave this life.

48.  In this life He also offers some very special things.

49.  This morning we want to make a note of some of what He offers.

50.  Eph. 1:7 refers to the “riches of His grace.”

51.  God’s grace is a treasure.  Forgiveness is a great, great gift.

52.  Think of the number of people who have gone through life wanting to be forgiven for something.

53.  Forgiveness has been the final request for many people.

 

54.  It is impossible for us to put a dollar amount on forgiveness, but we know it is a valuable gift.

55.  Through the riches of God’s grace, we can have full and complete forgiveness of sin.

56.  Every single transgression in a person’s life can be wiped completely away.

57.  Not only does forgiveness make us rich, sanctification becomes part of our spiritual portfolio.

58.  Sanctification means “to set apart.”

59.  This word is used in places like 1 Cor. 1:2.

 

60.  Sometimes people are set apart for a negative reason.

61.  Envision a team of young people who have chosen to play a sport.

62.  There are too many people to let everyone play, so the coach divides the team into “strings.”

63.  He has some players designed with the letter “A.”  Less skilled players are designed as a “B” string.

64.  Towards the bottom of the list are the “C” players.

65.  He or she may also have some “D” players.

66.  D players will spend a lot of time on the bench.  C team members will probably not play much either.

67.  People are set apart (divided into groups) for many reasons.

 

68.  God says He also sets apart people.

69.  He sets apart the saved to enjoy every spiritual blessing in Christ.

70.  Many in our world look at those who are set apart for something special and they are envious.

71.  They wish they could enjoy all the things enjoyed by others.

72.  God said we are invited to enjoy every single thing He has to offer.

 

73.  One spiritual benefit available to all people is salvation, 2 Tim. 2:10.

74.  We might liken this blessing to being on a cruise ship.

75.  Imagine a vessel that has 5,000 guests on board.

76.  It is in a remote area with no help available and it begins to sink.

77.  The water is deep, help is a day away, and the only hope for rescue is a lifeboat.

78.  Everyone on board soon realizes there is only enough space for 200 people.

 

79.  4,800 passengers on the cruise ship are going to die.

80.  The water is frigid and the boat is going to sink within minutes.

81.  What if we were on board such a ship and we were among the 200 who survived?

82.  We would consider ourselves fortunate; we had been saved.  Our life had been preserved.

83.  How much money would we say our spot on that lifeboat was worth?

84.  The experience would be priceless; we could not put a dollar figure on our salvation.

85.  A similar thing is true in the spiritual realm.

86.  God says a time of judgment and destruction is coming.

87.  All men from every moment in time will be judged by Jesus Christ.

88.  Anyone not in a right relationship with God will be eternally separated from God.

89.  They will be consigned to a place of everlasting torment.

90.  God says there is the possibility of salvation; we can be rescued from everlasting torment.

91.  Is this offer a priceless treasure or is it not?

 

92.  Another spiritual treasure is found in 1 Thess. 4:15-18.

93.  Christians at Thessalonica had lost some people they loved.  They were grieving.

94.  Paul said there were “words that could comfort them.”

95.  There are times in life when money will not comfort someone.

96.  We think of a small child who is sick; he cannot be comforted with a fistful of cash.

97.  At a funeral when mourners are grieving, money will not help those feeling the sting of death.

98.  It has often been said that money can fix almost anything.

99.  In truth, that is not right.  There are many things money cannot do.

 

100.          There are times in life when we need treasure than the American dollar.

101.          Paul said those times can be dealt with by the word of God – 1 Thess. 4:18 – READ

102.          Words can and do comfort people.  The words we have in scripture are rich.

103.          They have comforted people for thousands of years.

104.          The Bible alone is a priceless treasure.

105.          The scriptures form a book unlike any other.

106.          This is why in the past many have died to protect whatever part of the Biblical text they possessed.

107.          They knew that in their hands the had one of the greatest treasures the world would ever see.

 

108.          The riches of Christianity are also demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ.

109.          In Heb. 7:25 we are told Jesus can save us to the “uttermost.”

110.          Sometimes we and others say, “there is nothing more I/we can do.”

111.          In some cases we can only go so far with someone or something.

112.          Imagine the value in having a friend who is all-powerful.

113.          There is never a place we can go where He cannot be.

114.          There is never an experience so terrible He is afraid to stay by our side.

115.          There is never a time when He tires of being alongside us.

 

116.          That type of friend would be a person we would treasures.

117.          Heb. 7 says this is what Jesus does for His people.

118.          We sing songs about Jesus always being with His people.  Those songs are true.

119.          The Lord is a great spiritual treasure, but He is just one of the things found in Christianity.

 

120.          Maybe one of the most intriguing treasures is found in 2 Cor. 4:16.

121.          Paul said part of our body is being “renewed day by day.”

122.          After about the age of 20, most would say they do not feel renewed day by day.

123.          After getting out of high school, a person may begin to work.

124.          Maybe they work and go to school at the same time.

125.          Perhaps they get married and a family is started.  Long hours mean people get tired.

126.          Time passes and things begin to wear out in the body.

127.          Health generally does not improve with age.

128.          What if part of our body could be “renewed day by day”?

 

129.          If this applied to physical health, men and women would be knocking down the doctor’s door.

130.       They would want to know what shot they needed to get or what pill to take for their body to be renewed.

131.          God says part of our spiritual treasure is a mind renewed each day.

132.          The spirit of a Christian is renewed each single day.

133.          That is a rich, rich blessing that God offers to all His people.

 

134.          For the rest of our body, Rom. 8:18 says “glory is waiting.”

135.          All the problems and issues of this life will one day be past.

 

136.          God has an untold amount of spiritual wealth for His people.

137.          If someone were to ask me, “Does God want me to be rich,”? I would have only one answer “yes.”

138.          His riches are not in the form of things that fade.

139.          God is not interested in something like the stock market that rises and falls.

140.          His riches are spiritual, eternal, and far exceed everything man has in this life.

141.          This is God’s offer, but is this what we possess?

142.          Are we spiritually rich or are we spiritually poor?

143.          If we have children, what are we doing for them?

144.          We may be building a bank account for their college or first house, but what about their spiritual life?

145.          Last night I heard someone quote a daughter – she said:

146.          “Mom, you taught me how to smoke a cigarette.  You taught me how to make a cocktail.

147.          “You did not teach me how to die.”  I would add in their, “how to live.”

148.           Our Bible classes and assemblies help contribute to our spiritual welfare.

149.          Are we building a life of spiritual wealth or on a track that leads to spiritual poverty?