Riches For A Reason
Gtcotr/ss082904
Today our text will come from Matthew, Chapter 6. While you are turning there let me read a key passage of scriptures for the day.
Key Scriptures: Mark 10 (NIV)
28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"
29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
This past week my wife shared a quote with me which she found in her daily devotion time. Let me in turn share it with you:
God gives every bird his food, but doesn’t throw it in the nest.
This got me to thinking and studying the subject. And, after much prayer, counsel and consideration I have reaffirmed some very strong convictions in my life and doctrine.
Without respect to your current circumstances or situation of life.
I am convinced that God wants you to be rich …
rich for a reason
I know that God has a purpose for your prosperity
And
I believe that there is a season for your success
And
A specific field for you to flourish in
I believe that God has a reservoir of resources waiting for you with your name on it
A well of wealth which only you can draw from
A storehouse of substance held in reserve just for you
Provision for the vision God has for your life
We all have personal accounts in heaven into which we make heavenly deposits and earthly withdrawals. Matthew 6:19 & Proverbs 19:17
Matthew 6 (NIV)
24 "No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
25 ¶ "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Deuteronomy 28 tells of blessings which come upon and overtake God’s children who are following Him and His purpose for their life.
Two things the faithful believe about God Hebrews 11:6
#1 He Is! That He Exists
#2 He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
I am convinced that God wants you to be rich.
I am not talking about riches for riches sake -
But riches for a reason
I am not suggesting prosperity for personal passions & pleasures
But prosperity for a purpose
I am not talking about wealth for worldly advantage
But wealth for His will
I am not talking about money, power and position to build your kingdom but His.
God wants to finance His Kingdom advancement through you.
We are God’s husbandry, God’s field, God’s garden - His place of sowing and reaping. 1 Corinthians 3:9
God designed us, you and me, as the most fruitful place for Him to invest in all the earth.
When God invests something in our life, He has designed that it would increase … prosper in our hands.
Remember the parable of the talents given to people in Matthew 25
5 - 2 - 1
They were given according to each one’s ability
They were designed to double under their care
God will bless all the work of our hands. Deuteronomy 28:12
Whatsoever we do shall prosper. Psalms 1:3
But Prosper For A Purpose
The Kingdom of heaven is like a man who went into a far country and left his vineyard in the hands of hired servants. Later, he sent other servants by to receive his due. Those hired servants refused to consider the owner’s claims as legitimate. The owner then sent his son to take charge. Those hired servants killed the son, thinking they would be free from the land owner’s claim and the inheritance would be theirs. What?, Jesus asked those who were listening in Mark 12, What do you think the Lord of that vineyard shall do?
The answer is simple. God will not continue to bless and do business with those who do not give Him His due portion of their harvest. He will take His business elsewhere.
We can get rich without God, but if God is going to make us rich, He will not make us rich just so we can be rich. God wants us rich for a reason. “Blessed to be a blessing”, He told Abraham.
God wants to finance His Kingdom advancement through you.
We are God’s bank account. His central depository on earth.
He will pay you up to 90% of what He occasionally deposits in your life in exchange for another 10% of what you make on your own.
Remember, God’s deposits are designed to double with your help.
How much is He willing to deposit in my life? It Depends on:
1. My past faithfulness in money matters
* Was I a steward or did I act like I owned the field?
2. My present ability to handle more (Current Lifestyle Choices)
3. My future plans for any increase (No Vision - No Pro-Vision)
