Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Faith and Riches


Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
When you are in the middle of a crisis, what you really believe manifests itself in your words, actions, and attitudes.
Jn 11:21 Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. She was voicing past-tense faith.
Jn 11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
11:24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." That was future-tense faith.
11:22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." That was now faith, which is present-tense.
2 Co 4:18 While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Now faith stakes its claim on something, even if we don't see it.
2 Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Too often we base our feelings on what we see. We become prisoners of our own perceptions; we cease walking in faith. Reality extends beyond what you can see.
Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
He knows how the story ends, so fix your eyes on the unseen and not on what you see.
Eph 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin", do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
Too often I harbor anger all day. Lord, give me grace to forgive right away.
1 Tim 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
:8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content;

:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
:10 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.
:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
:13 If I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
:14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
:15 which He will manifest in His own time. He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
:16 who alone has immortality dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power, Amen.
:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
:18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
:19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
God measures wealth by the quality of our lives and our generous giving to bless others. Riches are a blessing only to those who make them a blessing to others.