Being Rich Toward God

I want to begin speaking about present times. We're all learning right now to cope with the economic downturn due to inflation here in the United States. According to government statistics, we are now at a 40-year high as far as inflation goes. I'm sure you're aware of that in many ways. As a recent CNET.com article explains, that means a dollar bill doesn't get you as much as it did before. I've noticed that. Gasoline, food, necessities are more expensive, the article says, and a slow economy means it's harder for Americans to earn money, secure employment, and save. A Monmouth University poll published on Tuesday, July 5th, it found that more than four in 10 Americans, 42 percent, say they are struggling to remain where they are financially. So they're just trying to stay paddling in the water and not sink. The Bureau of Labor Statistics from June 10th revealed that some of the largest increases over the past 12 months include, and I know you know these things, meats, poultry, fish, and eggs up to 14 percent, fruits and vegetables, 12 percent increase, electricity, 12 percent increase, natural gas, 30 percent increase over a year ago, May 2021. Used cars, 16 percent increase, some places higher. And gasoline, nearly 49 percent increase. AAA yesterday posted that the national average for gas is now $4.72 a gallon. I noticed in our drive today it looks like it's more around $4.39 or less in this area. Of course, we all know where to get the best bargains for gasoline by now.

Now, higher prices, of course, affect us all. And so to make our dollars stretch, we find ourselves doing what? Well, we're cutting back in some areas. We're hunting for bargains. We're avoiding needless expenses. And we may, all of us, be trying to drive a little bit less.

But while we're cutting back and stretching our shrinking dollars, we must take care that our thrift does not translate into our becoming miserly of spirit.

Learning to cut back in some areas of our lives could impact other areas of our lives. We don't want to become miserly in spirit. After all, we are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

And we are not to be conforming to the pattern of the world, we're told in Romans 12, verse 2. And so we must not let our need to be more frugal financially cause us to be more frugal in practicing God's way of love, His kindness, and His generosity. No matter whether times are easy or hard, we as God's people must do good.

We must be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share. Those are the words of Paul from 1st Timothy 6.18. And so that means, brethren, that we must always, always be striving to live by faith generously and in ways that please God.

We must be rich toward God. That's what's expected. But how? How do we be rich towards God? Well, that's the subject of today's sermon. And I've entitled the message, Being Rich Toward God, Being Rich Toward God. Now, as we begin to delve into the subject of living generously, being rich toward God, it's vital that we believe God's holy scripture. As we heard from the sermonette, we have to believe and trust in what we read in God's Word. And if we trust God's holy scripture, then we do need to see the riches of this world from God's perspective.

We need to recognize and believe that God owns all things. And that's the first point I want to make as we discuss, consider how to be rich toward God. We must believe that God is the Creator and He owns all things. We must believe God is Creator and He owns all things. So we'll begin back in Isaiah chapter 45 verse 18.

Isaiah 45 verse 18. And here we read a truth from God, a truth which most people would disagree nowadays. Isaiah 45 verse 18. And what is that truth? Well, that truth is basically the truth that God created all things. Isaiah 45, 18 reads, For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited. I am the Lord. There is no other. And because God is the Creator, He created all things through the Word, who was with God and was God.

It's from John 1 verse 3. Of course, He lived with humanity as Emmanuel, Jesus Christ. That God is Creator, but God also owns all things. Let's turn to Psalm 24 verse 1 through 2. In Psalm 24 verse 1 through 2, King David, in these particular verses, King David prays God as Creator and possessor of the earth in all it holds. Psalm 24 verse 1 through 2, The earth is the Lord's in all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.

For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. And so He says He formed the earth, the world, and those who dwell therein. Humanity, like everything else, belongs to God. While we're in the neighborhood, let's also look at Psalm 50 verse 10 through 12. Psalm 50 verse 10 through 12. In this Psalm of Asaph, who is a seer of God and one of the music directors selected by King David for the worship music and temple, Asaph wrote God's declaration of His ownership of the entire world.

These are, in other words, I'm trying to say that Asaph is speaking on behalf of God here. Verse 10, For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine in all its fullness. And back in Deuteronomy chapter 10, again we're establishing from Scripture the fact that God is Creator. God possesses all things. Deuteronomy 10 verse 14. Here we see that Moses declared to Israel this same message.

Deuteronomy 10 verse 14. Indeed, heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth, with all that is in it. That God created all things, that he also owns all things, including you and me, including us, that should give us a little bit different perspective on life and what happens in life.

It should make us utterly humble in one way and, of course, grateful on the other hand together. David certainly was aware of this truth, and he believed it. He believed it. And we can read that stance of David's in 1 Chronicles chapter 29, our last Scripture in this section. 1 Chronicles chapter 29, verse 10 through 14. 1 Chronicles 29, verse 10 through 14. Here we find recorded David's prayer to God upon the occasion when he and the people had given generously of the materials needed to build God's temple, a very momentous occasion. In 1 Chronicles chapter 29, verse 10 through 14, just a section here, David spoke. We see, therefore, David blessed the Lord before all the assembly. And David said, blessed are you, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty. For all that is in heaven and in earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you reign over all. And your hand is power and might, and your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you and of your own we have given you.

A good reminder. David gratefully and humbly worshipped God and thanked him for being the creator who reigns over all things, his emphasis on God's authority, God's sovereignty, God's control. It's unquestioned by David and should be unquestioned by us.

And he stresses how God gives generously even the very things we voluntarily give to revere and honor God. It's interesting, isn't it? We owe every good and perfect thing to God, and we certainly owe him our sincere worship and grateful praise. And we should be mindful that were it not for God's grace, we have and we are nothing. We would not exist. And so should we ever become a little bit arrogant? I don't know if that might happen. I guess I better just speak for myself. If we'd ever become a little arrogant or a bit conceited about our wealth, our possessions, our talents, our good looks, then we might stop and recall that our very existence and all that we are and all that we hope to be or hope to have, and that certainly includes eternal life and God's family and kingdom. All that of that is due to the benevolence and generosity of our loving God. We deserve death because of our sins, we know, but God and Jesus Christ have graciously made available to us salvation. And so knowing and believing that God created and possesses all things, and yet He is so kind and generous, it should humble us and it should also inspire us to try even harder to become more like God, to become more like God in generosity and kindness. Of course, with the help of God's Word and His Holy Spirit, He will help us to fulfill that goal, to be more like Him. Now, just as King David generously gave back to God from his own personal possessions, so should we be willingly, so should we willingly honor God with our possessions, with things that we possess. And that's my second point that we should consider to be rich towards God. Be generous to God with our possessions. Be generous to God with our possessions. If you turn with me to Proverbs chapter 3, verse 9 through 10.

Proverbs chapter 3 verses 9 through 10 tells us that giving to God of our possessions, particularly of our increase, is a way to show reverence for God. Proverbs 3 verse 9 reads, Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase, so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. Of course, that's old metaphor to explain that God will richly bless us. We'll have more than we will know what to do with if we'll trust God and give to Him of our increase.

And we're assured that God will richly bless us for our generosity to Him. And this scripture tells us when we honor God with our possessions, He will bless us. And all this should mean that we trust God to do so. We give what God gives to us. We give back because it is our way of showing love to God, and we also trust Him to bless us always. It's our way of wanting to express our love and generosity back to Him. We understand that only God can truly bless. And of course, this takes us to the topic of tithes and offerings. When we pay our tithes and offerings, we are being rich toward God. We are also expressing our trust in God. Tithing is a practice of giving back to God 10 percent, a tenth of one's increase. Offerings are to be given apart from one's tithes. Offerings can be given anytime, but God specifically requests offerings three times a year at His festivals. You can read about that in Deuteronomy 16.16.

When we tithe to God, we are continuing an ancient practice mentioned back in Genesis 14. If you turn there with me, please, let's look at that. Genesis 14, verses 18-20. Here, as we read, we probably will recall, after He had defeated four kings and rescued Lot, Abram—he would later be—his name would be changed to Abraham—Abraham gave a tenth of the plunder, a tenth of the spoils, to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. Genesis 14, verse 18. Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. He gave him a tithe of all, he being Abram.

Abram, Abraham, understood very deeply that his victory over those four kings was due to God, in whom he trusted. Rather than keeping all the plunder for himself, covenant at all, Abraham expressed his reverence and gratitude to God by giving a tithe to Melchizedek, king of Salem, and priest of God, who we learned later in the New Testament was actually the pre-incarnate Christ. Tithing to God preceded the old covenant we see, and it preceded Levitical priesthood. Now, God later did include tithing in his covenant with Israel. You can be turning now to Numbers 18, verse 21. God did include tithing in his covenant with Israel. The tithes of the children of Israel, those tithes of their increase, were to be given to the Levites. This was because Levites did not inherit, did not receive an inheritance of land, and we see this explained in Numbers 18, verse 21.

We read, Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meaning. And so those tithes supported the Levites, and supported them in their work at the tabernacle, and also it went towards Levitical priesthood. Now, some claim that Jesus Christ ended tithing. But we find his clear support of tithing stated in Matthew 23, 23. It's very apparent when we read that. Let's look at Matthew 23, 23. Christ was busy correcting the Pharisees, trying to get them on the right path, right track, and in his correction of the Pharisees, tithing does come up.

Matthew 23, 23, Jesus said, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you have paved tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy in faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone.

So Jesus did not condemn the Pharisees for paying tithes on little things like herbs and spices, but for failing to practice judgment, mercy, and faith. These are the core features of God's law, His law of love. And so in other words, the Pharisees ought to have been doing all of these things, all of these things, and that does include tithing. He did not condemn tithing. Now today, Aaron and his line are no longer the high priest. And if you turn with me to Hebrews 7, instead Hebrews 7, verse 1 through 4, explains that our high priest is Jesus Christ according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7, verse 1 through 4, the writer of Hebrews states, For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth of all, first being translated king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, meaning king of peace, without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. This reference is referring to our high priest. Our high priest is Jesus Christ. And with the Levitical priesthood having passed away, tithes and offerings are now to be given to support the work and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Our giving expresses our reverence and gratitude to God. It also expresses our willingness, our desire, to be part of God's work and having a part in our own ways in the ministry of Christ.

Now, tithing remains a personal, involuntary act of faith. It is an expression of trust between an individual and God. Pastors do not police who is tithing or not. That's between you and God.

Only that individual and God know whether all of one's tithes are being paid. Now, we could choose not to pay God's tithes and offerings, and I do call them God's tithes and offerings. But as we can read next in Malachi chapter 3, verse 8 through 10, this is the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi 3, verse 8 through 10, to not pay God the tithes and offerings, that would make us thieves. That would make us thieves. This is God-accused ancient Israel of being thieves. In essence, he called them robbers. Let's read there. Malachi 3, verse 8 through 10. The prophet Malachi writes, speaking for God, Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, In what way have we robbed you? There's a conversation between God and Israel, as it were. And God replies in tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Now, some scholars want to argue that this is only addressed to the Levitical priest, that they weren't using the tithes correctly. But it says, God says, You have robbed me, even this whole nation. The whole nation, that would include all the individuals involved, they weren't doing their part. They weren't giving all their tithes and offerings to God.

And so, because their hearts were not right with God, they were not really trusting God, the entire nation of Israel was not being blessed by God. They had been unfaithful in paying God all of their tithes and offerings. And as a point, I just want to make a point here, talking about our need to be rich to God. No nation or any individual can be said to be generous towards God or rich towards God while we might actually be stealing from Him.

You can't be rich to God if you're robbing from Him.

Now, in verse 10, we continue reading here, God really wanted Israel to repent. He wanted Israel to get right with Him. He always wants people to get right with Him. And so, God challenged Israel to prove Him faithful. And if they would pay all their tithes, He promised that He would richly bless them. Verse 10, bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. And then God says, and try me now in this. The Revised Standard Version says, put me to the test. You might say, prove me, God is saying. Try me now in this. Put me to the test, says the Lord of Hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it. In essence, God is telling Israel, and the message continues today, God is telling us, you can trust me to bless you. Let me prove it to you. And those who put God to the test in this way will learn that God does indeed richly bless those who pay their tithes and offerings to Him. God will bless us, maybe in ways we won't expect. My own experience in listening to many of you through the years is that God will bless us when and where and how we need it most. And often in ways we certainly don't expect. It's always a pleasant surprise when we recognize that what's just happened has been a blessing from God. You see, God is faithful. He is trustworthy.

He is generous, and He wants us to have that right relationship with Him. And giving of our possessions back to God helps to solidify that relationship between us and God. He is most generous. Now, humanly speaking, have you ever tried to explain tithing to people that don't believe in tithing? They just don't get it. And some of us didn't get it when God was calling us, and we hadn't really studied and prayed because I guess I should admit it takes a lot of faith, yes, and it takes a lot of courage, too, to give tithes and offerings sometimes, especially. But humanly speaking, it does not make sense to give to God 10% of our increase, humanly speaking.

But for those who are faithful, for those who do recognize God as their Creator, the possessor of all things, and the giver in our only hope of salvation, giving God our tithes and offerings makes perfect sense. In comparison to what He's offering us, it's really a little thing, but a great thing. Don't get me wrong.

Paying our tithes and offerings ought to demonstrate our reverence for God and our desire, then, to have an abiding relationship with Him. It is a matter of faith. And so giving back to God from the riches He gives to us is a way of being rich toward God, and we can never outgive God. That's another fact. To be rich toward God not only means, then, that we have a right and reverent attitude that comes from knowing and believing that God is the Creator and the possessor of all things, and that we willingly give of our possessions to God. The third way we can be rich to God means that we must also trust in God and not worldly riches. The third way of being rich toward God, I should say a third way, there are many ways to be rich towards God, but a third way of being rich toward God is trust in God, not in worldly riches. The riches of this world, what is that? It can mean many different things, but broadly speaking, we're talking about money, wealth of all sorts, stocks and bonds, insurance policies, things I don't even understand financially.

Power can be part of the wealth of this world. Riches of this world influence beauty, popularity, fame, fortune. All of these are riches of the world, but they also hold something else in common. They are also fleeting. They are also temporary. They don't last. Let's be turning back to Psalm chapter 49. Psalm 49. The entirety of Psalm 49 really comes across as a sobering warning to every individual. In fact, this Psalm is addressed to every inhabitant of the earth, every human being. It's a warning to every individual to trust God and not the temporary riches of this world. That's what we read here. Psalm 49 verse 1 through 2. Hear this, all peoples give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. Everybody needs to hear this. Of course, God does love everybody. He wants everyone to receive salvation. He is concerned for everyone.

Looking down verses 6 through 9, we find, describe the futility of those who trust foolishly and worldly riches and so are unable to receive the true riches of eternal life. Verse 6, we read, those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother nor give to God a ransom for him.

You know, no amount of money, no matter how high you pile it up, is going to redeem someone from the grave. It's going to help anyone get anyone into the kingdom of God. For the redemption of their souls is costly and it shall cease forever that he should continue to live eternally and not see the pit. You can't get salvation through the world's riches. So again, no amount of world's riches can ever redeem anyone from death unto eternal life. Salvation is possible, we know, only through living faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our sins. God alone gives us the promise of eternal life and those who desire it must trust him, not worldly riches. And yet people then and people now, they trust in wealth. We see it all the time. They trust in wealth and power and fame rather than revering God and trusting him. In fact, those who strive to live their lives according to God's way of life and reverence and humility to him, they're often the laughingstock of cruel jokes and called foolish and ignorant.

Sadly, while we're pursuing true riches, they're pursuing worldly riches, and we are on the right target. They have taken the wrong path. Let's continue verses 10 through 12.

Continue verse 10, for he sees wise men die. So rather than revering trust in God, these people, the people who covet wealth and riches and don't trust in God, they do see wise men die. They do likewise the fool and the senseless person perish and leave their wealth to others. So even those who are wealthy recognize that people live and die. They leave their wealth behind.

But it seems that they think it won't happen to them. There's a self-deception that we can do sometimes as human beings where we don't want to accept the reality of life. Verse 11, continuing on, their inner thought, their inner thought, maybe their secret thought and hope is that their houses will last forever, that their dwelling places will last to all generations, and they call their lands after their own names. You know how many cities are named after famous people? How many mountain tops? How many lakes? It's an attempt on human, it's a human attempt to have immortality. It won't work. It doesn't work. Eventually, all that is going away. But those of us who trust in God and receive salvation, we'll still be seeing the stars as they go out one day because we will still exist. But those who trust in riches will be long gone. Verse 12, nevertheless, man, though in honor, according to worldly standards, does not remain. He is like the beast that perish, and this is the way of those who are foolish and of their posterity who approve of their saints. They approve of their pursuit of riches, covetousness. Here the psalmist suggests that those who trust in riches, they essentially think that their lives are charmed. They think that, unlike others, that they will somehow cheat death at the end. But we understand that is a sad delusion. That is a fiction. That will not happen because we trust God's Word.

But he who trusts in God like the psalmist does can anticipate redemption from death and afterwards eternal life. Let's look at verse 15 here. But God will redeem my soul, the psalmist writes. God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me. Very positive. And as a further consolation, those who trust in God, we are told, should not fear the rich and the powerful. You see historically the rich and the powerful are those who oppress the poor and the less powerful. And it happens until this time. The oppressed, the faithful. And so those who trust in God are told not to fear the rich and powerful because those so-called rich and powerful become nothing at the end. Verse 16 through 17 we read, do not be afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased. For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him. And so Psalm 49 is indeed a message for all people. God is sending out a warning to everyone if only everyone would hear. For those who trust in wealth, who covet riches, fame, and power, those worldly riches will not buy salvation. But for those who trust in God, they will receive the true and lasting riches from God. That is redemption from death and eternal life. Now it's interesting to compare this Psalm with Paul's instruction in 1 Timothy chapter 6. Let's be turning there next, please. 1 Timothy 6 chapters 6 through 10.

You read through these verses after reading Psalm 49 as we've just done. I wonder if perhaps Paul had Psalm 49 in mind as he wrote this letter, this portion of the letter, to Timothy. Here Paul confirmed God's truth to Timothy, and he confirms it in our own present day time, for our own admonition. 1 Timothy 6, 6 through 10. Now godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. That's for sure. And having food and clothing with these we shall, we should be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Now we need to understand here, of course, that money itself is not evil. Neither is being rich evil. In fact, every one of us in this room, compared to other people in different parts of this world, they might call us filthy rich, compared to what some have and how they live.

And I think that is also good for us to think about and remember.

So money itself is not evil, neither is being rich evil. It's the coveting of money. It's being greedy for riches and power and influence that it affords, that it purchases. That's what can really destroy us. It can bring about other works of the flesh, such as pride, licentiousness, and much more. I'd like for you to hold your place here, and please turn with me to Mark chapter 10. Sometimes people may have the idea that all rich people are evil, that all rich people are cursed of God somehow or will be. And sometimes they may think that because of some rather sobering words that Jesus Christ spoke about those who are rich. But we need to consider these words carefully. So in Mark chapter 10, verse 23 through 27, I'd like to read through these verses with you. And it happens after a rich man was unwilling to follow Christ.

We see in verse 22 that that man he was sad at the word and when he was sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And here in verse 23 is where we'll begin reading. Then Jesus Christ looked around and said to his disciples, how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.

Just a rather clear statement, but look at the reaction. The disciples and the disciples were astonished at his words. Astonished gives us the idea that their jaws dropped. They couldn't believe that. Well, why did that seem so strange to them? Why their astonishment? It's because in their culture, and still like ours, apart from God, we think of the rich as being powerful, good, whatever people. If they can't, if they're not going to be blessed, well, who is? Who can be?

So there's part of that, and maybe they all recognize that they too aspire to be rich.

Most of us want to have a little more than we have at times, and that in itself is not wrong. But what is wrong is what Jesus continues. He goes back and he clarifies a little bit here.

Verse 24, And the disciples were astonished at his words, but Jesus answered again, so he re-stayed, rephrases, and said to them, Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God. And then he uses this figurative language, which has been argued about for centuries, verse 25, and then he said, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And again, I think we need to understand he clarified it for a rich man, for a man who trusts in riches. That seems to be a clarifying meaning here.

Now, some have said, well, they want to give us a little room to squeak through into the kingdom. Some have argued that this needle is referring to a small gate and a wall, but the use of that word didn't appear to the Middle Ages. So scholars now believe that Jesus probably meant this rather literally. He really meant what he said. And so he uses this figure of speech, this simile, this comparison, to something people then could understand. The largest animal they had ever seen, they would be well known of, there is a camel. There is an old Jewish proverb the rabbis used back this time. They used an elephant through the eye of a needle. Christ used a camel, the largest land animal they would have known in that part of the world. And the eye of a needle was the smallest artificial opening made by man. An eye of a needle is the smallest artificial opening then made by man.

And so this large camel, you can visualize it. I'm going to use bad English. There ain't no way that camel is going to get through the eye of the needle. It can't happen. It's impossible. And that's his point about those who trust and riches, those who are covetous. There's no way they can get into God's kingdom because they're trusting the wrong thing. They're trusting in riches and all the worldliness. And that will not work. That will not work for us.

And so again, verse 26, the disciples were astonished the first time. They seem even more astonished now. Verse 26, and they the disciples were greatly astonished now. They're feeling even more sense of hopelessness. They're greatly astonished, saying among themselves, well, who then can be saved? Maybe they recognize themselves. Well, we covet a bit at times. We're trying to get over it. How are we going to get in the kingdom? But Jesus looked at them, and I'm thinking maybe he looked them straight in the eye, calmly, confidently, encouragingly. And Jesus looked at them and said, with men it is impossible. It's not possible. But not with God. For with God, all things are possible. And that's encouraging. Through Christ, all things are possible. And what that should remind us is that through faith in Jesus Christ's sacrifice and with the help of God's Holy Spirit, we take on that process of conversion.

Those who trust in riches, you see, can repent. Even if some of us are struggling with covetousness at times, that's something we repent of. And God will help us repent. He gives us the help of His Holy Spirit. And in that way, as we follow Christ through the process of conversion, we can follow God. And we can receive those true riches of salvation that we very much want. So it's important to understand what those verses are really talking about. Now let's go back to 1 Timothy 6, verses 11. And so now, as we move on through this section of Paul's letter to Timothy, and of course he's writing to all of Christ's followers, verses 11 through 12, Paul urges Timothy, or urges all of us, to pursue the true riches, not worldly riches, but true riches of godly character, God's mindset. For those are things that mindset of God, His righteousness cannot be taken away from us. Verses 11 through 12, But you, O man of God, flee these things, the ways of the riches, covetousness, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. We're going to have to work at it. We're going to have to wrestle with it. And lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. He's referring to the process of conversion. Again, these are the true riches, some of the true riches we find given in Scripture that are worth having. Now Paul also continues, and he urges those who happen to be wealthy. Because God does call people who have a little more than others. And of course, as I said, compared to other people in the world, we're probably all quite rich, too many of them. But Paul also urges those who happen to be wealthy, not to covet, but to trust in God and learn to be rich in good works. There's a right way to use the blessings of wealth God will give us. And so, verse 17, continuing, Paul writes, He tells Timothy, Don't get full of pride and be conceited.

Then here in verses 18 through 19, Paul gives us a clear understanding of what we need to be doing to be rich towards God. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Those are the things we need to be doing, trusting God and becoming rich in good works. But whether or not we consider ourselves as rich or poor, Paul exhorts us to the same task.

We have the same task, to be rich in good works, which please God. And when we choose to be led by God's Spirit and do God's will, to live humbly by faith, and with loving service and sharing and giving of ourselves and service to others, we will stay close to God. And we will build lasting bonds with our brothers and sisters in Christ, the family of God, our brethren. Being rich in good works is a way of being generous to God. And that is something all of us can do. Whether we're young or old, rich or poor, all can live God's way of life. We're not to be coveting worldly fame or fortune, but doing good to honor God. That is being rich toward God. And so we are trusting God whenever we step out on faith to do good. And that's the part of being rich in God, where it takes courage and faith, both of which God will give us with the help of His Spirit and His Word and the help of our brethren to walk that right path. But we do have to step out on faith to do good. That's what God wants us to do. He wants us to do that as we are able and as we have opportunity. Let's turn back one more time to the book of Proverbs. This time, Proverbs 3, 27. This is something to keep in our hearts and minds and think about. It's a principle of living God's way. Proverbs 3, verse 27.

Proverbs 3, 27 tells us, Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. When it is in the power of your hand to do so, do not withhold good from those to whom it is due. Now, it's interesting. We should point out that this scripture isn't limited to those who are rich or to those who are poor. It's meant for everyone. It's also not limited to when we're experiencing good times or difficult times.

It's for any time, all times, any time that we have the opportunity and the ability to do good for others. Now, it helps at this point to paint a picture. Let's paint a picture. Let's have an illustration of how to trust God and to share and to be generous even in difficult times. Some of us are facing rather challenging times right now and probably more to come. So to paint a picture of how to trust God and to share and be generous even in difficult times, God is preserved for us two accounts of poor but faithful widows. And we're familiar with these accounts, but they're very important not to neglect. The first account is in 1 Kings 17. Please turn back there with me. 1 Kings 17.

This incident happened back in the ancient kingdom of Israel during a time of severe drought, and God sent Elijah the prophet to a poor widow in Xerathath. 1 Kings 17, verse 10 through 16. I'm just going to read through here.

You follow along, please. So he, Elijah, rose and went to Xerathath, and when he came to the gates of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, Please bring me a little water and a cup that I may drink.

And as she was going to get it, notice how she did it. She did something rather generous, I think. She turned around to do it. And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, Please give me a morsel of bread in your hand. So she said, As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin and a little oil in a jar. And see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die. That's how little she had left.

And Elijah said to her, Do not fear, go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first and bring it to me. And afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel, The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth. And look what she did. She went away and did according to the word of Elijah. And she and he in her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Elijah.

I find this very interesting account. As little as she had, this woman must have been faithful for a long time, and she is going to be faithful to the very end. It's really inspiring when you think about it. As little as she had, this poor widow willingly gave all that Elijah asked.

She had the opportunity, you see. She had the opportunity and the ability to share her little bit of flour and oil with Elijah. What she did, she stepped out in faith, and she did what he said.

She trusted God and was generous to God's servant.

And God blessed her, and so she and her family survived.

Let's look at a second account of a poor widow. You probably know where I'm going.

Luke chapter 21. Luke chapter 21. I wondered, this is off script, so to speak, often wondered one day when these two widows, let's say they're resurrected and they read this, I wonder what they'll think. We don't know who they are, but in some ways we do know who they are. It's amazing. Luke 21, verse 1 through 4. Here we find the second account of a poor widow who gave an offering of only two mites. We've had a lot of consideration of those two mites in her act through the years. Now Jesus was watching what she did, and he commended her for her great offering. He commends her to us. I don't know if he ever commended her directly. Verse 1, Luke 21. And he and Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and he saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So he said, truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all, more than all of those wealthy people. For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God. But she, she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.

It's amazing. It's wonderful, wonderful and amazing. As little as she had, this poor widow trusted God. Let me say, I think she too had been a faithful person for quite a long time. She had the opportunity and the ability, so she stepped out in faith and gave all she had to God. And Jesus said she gave more than the others because she gave from faith and love and trust in God. These two accounts of faithful widows, these faithful widows should really encourage us. For no matter, it tells us, no matter our station in life or predicament, we can be rich to God. It's not about the money. It's about the heart and the faith. It is a matter of faith and trust in God, which we bear. It motivates us to the good actions. But yet there's another example we need to learn from. Let's go back a few pages to Luke 12. Luke 12, verses 16-21. And this is in sharp contrast to the poor widows. It makes what they did even more wonderful to consider because here in Luke 12, verse 16-21, we find the parable of a rich fool who coveted his riches. He coveted his riches all to himself. Then Jesus spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself that certain rich man thought within himself, saying, What shall I do since I have no room to store my crops? Well, so he said, I will do this. I will pull down my barns and build greater, bigger ones. And there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.

But God said to him, Fool, this night your soul be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have provided? And Jesus said, So is he who lays up treasure for himself. And is not rich toward God. Quite a contrast, isn't it? Rather sharp to the way those two faithful widows behaved and acted. The rich man coveted all that produced the bounty for himself.

Do you notice that not once he mentioned God, not once did he mention God's generosity to him, not once did he mention ever sharing or giving from his abundance, certainly no reference made to giving a tithe or an offering. And then he died unexpectedly, and his plans of great riches came to nothing. Just like the worldly riches, his plans in his life were fleeting and meaningless. And why? Because he had only thought of himself. He trusted in riches, but not God.

Now through these three examples, God is encouraging us. He wants his people not to be covetous, not to be greedy, not to be focused on the riches of this world. In fact, going down a few more verses here, verses 22-23, that's the point Christ taught his disciples here.

Luke 21 verse 22, then he said to his disciples, therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life. This is good advice for the difficult financial times we are in. Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. In our focus, we know it must not be on fleeting riches of this world, but on the true riches, eternal riches of the kingdom of God, it's salvation. So we also read a few more verses down, verses 31-34 here. Jesus said, but seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. And notice he says, do not fear. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Again, we're reminded, over and over again, aren't we, throughout Scripture, we're reminded here again of God's generosity to us.

Verse 33, sell what you have and give alms. Share of our possessions. Provide yourselves moneybags which do not wear old, a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no thief approaches or moth destroys, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So the admonition is not to place our heart, the worldly riches, coveting, but towards God. And with that, we have three ways of being rich toward God. Believe that God is the creator and he owns all things. Be generous to God with our possessions. Trust in God, not in worldly riches.

No matter how bad the bad times or how good the good times, we have every good reason always to be rich toward God. Only God opens his treasuries in heaven to pour down rain. We need to be praying about that, I think. Only God gives us the bounty of his fields and seas. Only God soothes and heals us, body, heart, and mind. Only God gives us life and the means to know and to believe him. And only God gives us the promise and hope of eternal life as his glorious sons and daughters in the kingdom and family of God. God is most generous.

So even if we face tough times now and more difficult times ahead, we must be faithful to God and trusting in him and doing good works of kindness and generosity and especially to our brethren and God's family. And so now is not the time to hold back. Now is not the time to be ungenerous. Now and always is the time to remain faithful. And so I encourage us all, let us be rich toward God.