Eternal Riches

5 Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? 6 They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. 7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. 8 Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough 9 to live forever and never see the grave. 10 Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. . . . . 16 So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. 17 For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. 18 In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success. 19 But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day. 20 People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals. Psalms 49:5-10, 16-20 (NLT).

 

This Psalm teaches everyone a valuable lesson in a world obsessed with wealth, power, and fame --- wealth cannot prevent death or determine one’s destiny (Psalm 49:5-10). Wealth is not a sin.  However, God wants His people to use wealth to help others and glorify His Holy

kingdom here on earth (1 Timothy 6:3-19; see also Matthew 6:33; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

 

Sadly, those who trust in their wealth and human talents have a false sense of security. Trusting in worldly possessions such as riches, pride, or fame is vain and futile.  Wealth cannot prevent death (1 Corinthians 15:26; see also Luke 12:13-21). No one can take wealth or possessions with them (Psalm 49:10-12, 17; Ecclesiastes 2:18, 21; Ecclesiastes 7:2; Ecclesiastes 9:5). At the moment of death, both rich and poor are naked and empty-handed before God and the only treasure that matters is our love, faith and obedience in God. Whether you are rich or poor, wise or foolish, everyone leaves everything behind after death. No takes anything with them when they die (Job 1:21; Ecclesiastes 5:13-16; 1 Timothy 6:7). Even more, no one can purchase eternal life with God. Wealth cannot buy forgiveness for our sins with God.  Only God can graciously redeem our souls through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-12).  If we have been faithful to God and His kingdom, we possess eternal riches that will never die away (Matthew 6:19-34).

 

References

 

Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.

Enough From God

5 Every word of God proves true (pure). He is a shield (refuge) to all who come to Him for protection. … 7 O God, I beg (ask) two favors from You; let me have them before I die. 8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 9 For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s Holy Name.

Proverbs 30:5, 7-9 (NLT).

Wisdom teaches us that wealth and poverty can be hazardous to our spiritual as well as physical health. Wealth or poverty is not a sin (Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 10:15, 22; Proverbs 11:24; Proverbs 28:27; Proverbs 29:7). However, both extremes of wealth and poverty are filled with dangers and can tempt us away from God. Wealth prevents some people from entering heaven because of their pride and self-reliance on their wealth and not God (Psalm 15; Matthew 19:16-30). Wealth can cause people to disown and not trust God as their provider.  Nevertheless, poverty can cause some people to steal to provide for their needs and not trust God (Proverbs 30:8–9).

To avoid both extremes, Agur offered a simple prayer for our daily needs from God to find daily contentment, peace, and joy (Proverbs 30:5, 7-9; see also Matthew 6:11). Our lives are more likely to be happy if we have "neither poverty nor riches." As the Holy Bible teaches, we must look to God and trust God faithfully, daily, and wholeheartedly (Proverbs 3:5-10).  Even more, the Holy Bible teaches us to seek God to provide our daily needs and help us live according to His will and purposes, whether we have little or plenty (Matthew 6:11; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 4:12). As we trust God for our daily needs, we can go about Kingdom ministry relieved of care and worry (Matthew 6:25-34).

Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1991.
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008. 
 

Who Is God?

The Holy Scriptures emphasizes that the true God is personal and “living” (see e.g., Deuteronomy 5:26; Joshua 3:10; 1 Samuel 17:26, 36; 2 Kings 19:4, 16; Psalm 42:2; Psalm 84:2; Jeremiah 10:10). The only true God is the God and Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 8:6). The Old and the New Testaments continually maintain that there is only one God that exists in Three Persons (God the Father, God the Son- Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit) (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Isaiah 44:6-45:25; Mark 12:29-30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). God must be worshiped, loved, and respected faithfully as They all work together as a united Team to bring about creation, salvation, a new life, and heart peace (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 33:6, 9; Psalm 148:5; John 1:1-3; Romans 8; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 1:2).  In essence, this means we must worship God in the Name of Father, the Son - Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20; John 3:36; John 5:23-24; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). To worship a non-Trinitarian God is not to worship the true God.  The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 1:18; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). 

People sometimes ask, "Who made God?" The Holy Scriptures declare that God is eternal (Psalm 90:2).  Unlike humans, God is infinite, self-sustaining, omniscience, omnipotent, and transcendent.  God never ages and continues forever unchanged. The Holy Scriptures declare that God is invisible (Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:27) and that no one has ever seen God (John 1:18; John 5:37; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12, 20).  However, God often reveals Himself in the Holy Scripture by visible means, namely, theophany and incarnation.  Jacob saw God “face to face” (Genesis 32:30; see also Genesis 16:13; Exodus 24:10; Numbers 12:8; Judges 13:22).  The New Testament clearly declares God’s revelation of Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ (see John 14:9; 1 John 1-3).  Both men and women are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27; see also Galatians 3:28), and Jesus Christ is the image of God’s fullness and excellence (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3).

No one must use the Name of God without expressing some measure of worship, love, reverence, respect, and devotion (see Exodus 20:7).  Of the various Names of God, only Yahweh refers exclusively to the true God.  Yahweh means God’s lordship, control, authority, presence, and power. Both Old and Testament discuss the importance of faithfully loving God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We can show our faithful love to God through prayer (honestly talking with God), heart loyalty and praise, the reading and teaching of the Holy Scriptures, observing sacraments (e.g., the Lord’s Supper), and living holy lives (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). 

References
Packer, J.I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Tyndale House, 1993.
Frame, John. The Doctrine of the Christian Life. P & R Publishing Company, 2008.
 

Stay Faithful To God

5 All who are victorious (who overcome/conquerors) will be clothed in white. I (Jesus) will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.  Revelation 3:5 (NLT).

One of the main themes of the Holy Bible is God’s call to persevere and remain faithful to Him because He is faithful (see e.g., Isaiah 49:7; Psalm 36:5; 1 Corinthians 1:9). God never promised that life would be easy. However, God promised to be with us and never leave us (Isaiah 43:2-4; Hebrews 13:5-6). God through His Holy Spirit gives faithful believers the help, power, and strength to overcome any obstacle they may face (Psalm 118:5-9).

As a reward for their faithfulness, the names of all faithful believers of God (God the Father, God the Son-Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit) are listed in the Book of Life. This Book represents God's record of those who have humbly remained faithful, dependent, and obedient to Him, despite the many ups and downs of this life.  All faithful believers of God are guaranteed a listing in the Book of Life (see also Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:12, 15). Even more, God promises faithful believers a new clothing (“clothed in white”) as a sign of their victory, loyalty, and purity with God.

Just A Dab Will Do!

20 Jesus answered, “Because your faith is too small (little). I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a (small, tiny) mustard seed (kernel, poppy seed), you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. All things will be possible for you.”

Matthew 17:20 (NCV).

God wants us to trust in Him!  Even a small dab of faith in God can move mountains and accomplish great things (Habakkuk 2:4; Matthew 21:21). God is all-powerful, and He can overcome any challenge we face. Even more, we must never put faith in human strength and human effort, but in God’s power alone.  So, if you are facing a mountain that seems so big and un-moveable, turn your heart to God and trust in Him to move your mountain!

5 This is what the Lord says: “A curse is placed on those who trust other people, who depend on humans for strength, who have stopped trusting the Lord. 6 They are like a bush in a desert that grows in a land where no one lives, a hot and dry land with bad soil. They don’t know about the good things God can give. 7 But the person who trusts in the Lord will be blessed. The Lord will show him that He can be trusted. 8 He will be strong, like a tree planted near water that sends its roots by a stream. It is not afraid when the days are hot; its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year when no rain comes; it always produces fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NCV).

Reference:
 The New Student Bible. Zondervan Publishing Company, 1992.
 Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
 Our Daily Bread. RBC Ministries 2012.

Obey God

Moses:  5 Look, I have taught you the laws and rules the Lord my God commanded me. Now you can obey the laws in the land you are entering, in the land you will take. 6 Obey these laws carefully, in order to show the other nations that you have wisdom and understanding. When they hear about these laws, they will say, “This great nation of Israel is wise and understanding.” 7 No other nation is as great as we are. Their gods do not come near them, but the Lord our God comes near when we pray (call) to Him. 8 And no other nation has such good teachings and commands as those I am giving to you today. Deuteronomy 4:5-8 (NCV).

As the people of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminded the people of the importance of trusting, loving, and obeying God's laws (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Deuteronomy 10:12-13). However, many people today question if these Old Testament laws still applies to followers of Jesus Christ (also called Christians).

God gave Israel these laws to guide and direct the people toward healthy, happy, and devoted lives to Him. Moreover, God gave these laws to Israel so they would serve as an example or witness to the surrounding nations of God’s righteousness, mercy, compassion, wisdom, and understanding (see also Psalms 145:8-9; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 15:33). Similarly, Jesus Christ teaches His followers to be the light to the world of God’s righteous and wisdom (see Matthews 5:14–16).

The Ten Commandments are the heart of the Old Testament laws and they still apply to Christians today (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Matthew 19:16-19). These Commandments form a central core of ethics and goodness. The phrase “Judeo-Christian ethics,” often spoken in U.S. courtrooms and Congress, refer to the principles taken from the Ten Commandments.  Like Moses, Jesus commanded that we must allow these Commandments to penetrate our hearts and inner being for a balanced, fulfilled, and joyous life (see Matthew 22:34-40).

Reference:
The New Student Bible. Zondervan Publishing Company, 1992.
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.

Life’s Questions

Life is filled with questions. Troubled by what he saw in the world, the Prophet Habakkuk was a man who sought answers from God. Habakkuk saw a dying, hurting, and unjust world, and it broke his heart (Habakkuk 1:2-4). At the time, violence and injustice described Judah from the evil reign of King Manasseh (697–642 BC) to the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC). So, Habakkuk took his questions directly to God, in prayer.

Then God spoke to Habakkuk, telling the prophet to write His answer plainly so that the people would see and understand. God revealed to Habakkuk a vision of His glory (Habakkuk 2:14) that brought the prophet to solid faith (Habakkuk 2:4) and joyful praise (Habakkuk 3:16-19). God told Habakkuk that evil and injustice will not win, but eventually evil doers will be judged, and God’s goodness, power, and love will triumph.

Like the Prophet Habakkuk, we can also bring our questions and complaints to God. God wants us to come to Him with our struggles, problems, and doubts, as well as our joys, praises, and love. God is real and working in this world. Even more, God wants a personal relationship with us. We can trust God!

The teachings of Habakkuk gives everyone sound reasons to exercise faith and commitment to the supreme, holy, and just God (God the Father, God the Son – Jesus Christ, God the Spirit). Habakkuk 2:2-20 reminds us that the living God is not an absentee god. God is living, breathing and in control (Psalm 47:9; Acts 17:24-28; Colossians 1:15-20). On the surface, God’s power is not always visible, but God controls every situation and circumstance. Even more, God will ultimately bring justice to His world (see Habakkuk 2:2-3, 14). Judgment may not come quickly, but God’s judgment of evil and sin will come. God is still in control of this world and He will not overlook sin.

So let us all seek God’s high standards of faith and morality (e.g., see Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Psalm 15; Amos 5:4; Habakkuk 1:12; Micah 6:8; Habakkuk 2:4). Those who love, trust, and obey God will find joy and happiness in Him (Habakkuk 3:18; Philippians 4:4) and live victoriously under any circumstances (Habakkuk 2:20; Habakkuk 3:16-19). The book Habakkuk begins with a complaint, but ends with one of the most beautiful songs in the Bible.

I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain! Habakkuk 3:18-19 (The Message Bible).