Use the links (ctrl+click) on the scriptures to access the bible verses.
Have you worked hard and become prosperous? Have you stashed enough away to consider retirement? Are you looking forward to a life of ease due to your savings, pension scheme, or long-term investments? Is there room for God and neighborliness in your future plans?
Jesus’ parable of the rich fool depicts the end of the rich man who stores ONLY for his future merriment.
The rich man enlarged his storage houses, stored enough food for many years, and planned to sit back, party, and have fun. In response to his plans, God decides to call him up to heaven (or hell), thereby leaving all his stockpiled riches for others (Luke 12:15-21).
This parable does not condemn hard work, saving towards retirement, or enjoying the fruits of our labor; rather, it draws our attention to forsaking greed, sharing our wealth with others, and understanding the temporary nature of our worldly possessions!
God wants us to work hard, otherwise He would not command us to be diligent in order to prosper (Prov. 22:29).
God wants us to be fruitful and prosper, otherwise He would not have given us the power to make money (Deuteronomy 8:18). God wants us to take a break and enjoy His blessings, otherwise He would not have encouraged us to celebrate our blessings (Ecclesiastes 8:15). But in addition to these, God wants us to fight greed or the love of money (1 Timothy 3:3), to liberally share our good fortune with others in need (Luke 6:38), and to understand that none of us is going to leave this world with any of our physical riches (Ecclesiastes 5:15).
We pile up spiritual, permanent riches when we freely give to others; Jesus promised that these riches can neither be destroyed by moth nor rust (Matthew 6:19-21). Be the rich wise man today – share liberally!

Lesson of the Week

1. Beware of greed and over-dependence on your worldly riches (Mark 8:34-37).
2. Use your good fortune for good; share with the less fortunate (Isaiah 58:7-8).
If God has blessed you, be a channel of blessings for others by supporting them in their time of need.
Do not cling to your riches, hoping to keep it all to yourself. We only have this time on earth to prove to our heavenly Father that we are faithful stewards; let us use it wisely.
Share your blessings with others; it is Christ’s commandment (Luke 3:11).
Ask God today to give you a giving heart that is completely bereft of greed. This is the first step to being blessed bountifully. When God trusts you with His riches, it means He knows you will distribute to the necessity of His saints.
By all means, rejoice in your blessings, but do all things in moderation, knowing that the riches will not go with you when you die.
Work hard, save for tomorrow, resist greed, give to the needy, and glorify Jesus with your abundance.
May God’s goodness and brotherly love be yours this week and always.
Blessings from His Throne of Grace!

Weekly Nugget: “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 12:19-21; KJV).
Dr. Kene D. Ewulu ministers from Columbia, South Carolina, The United States.
All scriptures were linked from www.biblegateway.com

Permalink