Focus: True Riches

Text: Lk.16:11

"Who will commit to your trust the true riches?"

Today is the last of our six-course meal for August, which is True Riches. This is a quick glance at the six-parts menu:

*Assured identity

*Unalloyed joy

*Greater grace

*Upward vision

*Sure hope

*True riches

Real wealth is God-given. God is the source of true riches. In Christ the believer is exposed to the exceeding riches of God's grace, the riches of God's goodness, the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, the riches of the glory, and the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph.1:18; 2:7; 3:8,16; Rom.2:4; 11:33). Solomon tells us that "the blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it" (Prov.10:22). Paul tells us that we are blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus (Eph.1:3). 

God commits to His own true riches. God's people are rich. Christ tells one of the churches in the book of Revelation, "You are rich." Paul says, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2Cor.8:9). 

The Lord Jesus Christ has enriched our lives totally. He has lavished His riches on us. He has given us all that pertains to life and godliness. He has given us richly all things to enjoy.

While Paul tells us about "uncertain riches," James tells us about "corrupted" riches, and of a truth, both of them are not from God. The truth is that God gives wealth, but man makes it. Moses declares that God gives us the power to make wealth. God blessed father and son, David and Solomon, with vast wealth. The chronicler says about David, "And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour…" (1Chron.29:28). God asked Solomon to make demand of him, and he asked for wisdom and understanding to enable him discharge his regal responsibility. Then God says to him, "And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days" (1Kgs.3:13). The writer of Kings then remarked, "So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom" (1Kgs.10:23). Wealth is given by God before it is acquired by man. God gives us the capacity for wealth creation. Truly, true riches are God-given.

It is essential to acknowledge the fact that true riches are much more than material or physical; they are spiritual.

God requires of us to be rich toward Him. Christ tells of the individual who "layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (Lk.12:21). God wants to feel the positive impact of your wealth. Touch God with your wealth! Don't make Him feel like He made a mistake blessing you with riches. God wants you to be rich in faith. James says, "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?" (Jam.2:5). God requires that we become rich in good works. Paul tells Timothy to tell the rich "that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (1Tim.1:18). 

What God says to one He says to all. Let all of us be rich in good works! God longs for us to be rich in generosity. He loves generous and cheerful givers.

Paul told the Corinthian church about sending some men "to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem" (1Cor.16:3). About the Macedonian Christians, Paul says, "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality" (2Cor.8:3). Solomon assures us that "the liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself" (Prov.11:25). 

God wants us to be rich in character and charity - in doing good and loving others. God wants us to be rich in name, not only in temporal things. In the Song of Solomon we read that "thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee." In Ecclesiastes we read that "a good name is better than precious ointment." A noble name is a lasting legacy. It is wealth untold. 

God wants us to be rich in the word of God. Paul says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…" (Col.3:16). When it comes to the word of Christ, let us be rich, and let us enrich others with our wealth! Paul says, "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2Cor.6:10). 

We are blessed to be a blessing to others. True riches are possible in this world. Enjoy God's riches and enrich others with them!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter