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Great RichesBy: Joseph H. Murray“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Prov. 22:1). “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). We, as Christians, had better soon consider what is true riches. Is it of the world’s good? Or, is it of the Lord? We know that Jesus spoke a parable in His teachings, 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). There is an old poem that I heard, or words to an old song, when I was a boy that have these words: “If religion was something that money could buy, the rich would live, and the poor would die.” And if it’s like multitudes are teaching today, Lazarus didn’t have a chance to make it. But I am afraid, or am certain, that many have a mistaken idea of what true riches are in the sight of God. For it is written: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high–minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1Tim. 6:17–19). |
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