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"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded; 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." I Timothy 6:17
If you are able to read this devotional today, there is a 99 percent chance that you are rich compared to others of this world. If you are at home, you own a computer, you are probably paying for Internet service, you have a working phone and more basically, you have electricity in your house. Even if you aren't at your home, just that you have access to the Internet and a computer probably means you are indeed rich. Sometimes we get caught up in comparing ourselves and our riches to others in our country, or just our neighborhood. Our houses may be smaller, or we wear clothes that are years old instead of days old. Our car may be 10 years old or more. But when we consider how many people of the world do not even have electricity or running water, we realize that we are indeed rich materially no matter how tight the budget may seem.
So now that we know we are rich, what should we do and not do?
1) Don't be arrogant. As we discussed in the devotional about respect of persons, we should not set ourselves above others.
2) Don't trust in your money. As the above verse professes, we should trust in God, not in our possessions.
3) Do good works. One message that is repeated over and again in the Bible is to perform good works.
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" Hebrews 10:24
4) Share what you have willingly. I think the heart of the message is to generously share what we have with others. We need to seriously look at what God has blessed us with in this life and how we can share those gifts with others.
"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need." Acts 2:44-45
"He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise." Luke 3:11
"Distributing to the necessity of saints..." Romans 12:13
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." I Peter 4:8
Daily Devotional Archive - See our past daily devotionals.