BOASTING IN RICHES

“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” – Luke 12:16-21

LIGHT FOR NOW: The believer must remain unchanged in conduct or attitude even when there is a change in his financial status.

The rich man’s ground yielded much, and he needed room to bestow his goods. There is nothing wrong with having more and making more room to store them. The rich man said “soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat and be merry”. It was obvious he had put his trust in what he had. He was boasting in his riches. Notice what was said to the rich man. He was called a fool. He was not rich towards God. One of the letters written to the churches in the book of Revelation was to correct this. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:16-17).

The church in Laodicea were neither hot nor cold because they had put their trust in riches. They were no longer contending for the faith. They said “I am rich”. They were called wretched, miserable, blind and naked. This implies that rich in wealth is not rich towards God. The believer’s approach to finances must be different from the unbeliever. The presence of wealth or the lack of it should not affect our conduct. Our conduct must remain the same even when our account balance is not the same. If your conduct changes due to a change in financial status, you can see where your heart truly is. Be rich in good works.  Glory!

INSTRUCTION: Be rich in good works.

CONFESSION: I am neither wretched nor miserable; I do not make boast of riches, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

QUOTE: The presence or absence of money should not affect your conduct as a believer.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: LUKE CHAPTER 12; EVENING: REVELATION CHAPTER 3