Facts:

If you earn $34,000 or more, top 4% of wage earners in the world.

96% of the world are poorer than you.

If you make $45,000 or more, top 1% of the wage earners.

We in the USA are 6% of the world’s population but consume over 40% of the world's resources.

"Fortunate:" Receiving good from uncertain or unexpected sources, lucky.

  

How great is His goodness stored up for those who fear Him.

-Psalm 31:19

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

-Acts 17:26

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

-1 Timothy 6:17-18

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.... God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

-1 Timothy 6:11-12, 15b-16

"Arrogant:" Hupselo-phroneo (compound), to think lofty-be haughty.

Command them to… put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

-1 Timothy 6:17

“Do good” is Agathoergeo.

General word: Nobel and Excellent. Ultimate Good.

Families’ needs. Food, shelter, and clothing.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

-1 Timothy 5:8

Widows. Food, shelter, and clothing.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

-1 Timothy 5:4

Church leaders.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

-1 Timothy 5:17

Any believer in need.

...that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

-Acts 4:34-35

Eu-meta-dotos: Generous, liberal-bountiful.

  

Believers are to act toward others with the same generosity that God has given us.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

-Luke 12:48b

1 - We have been greatly blessed!

2 - We are not that smart or good!

  

Temptation Number One:

“Let the rich not be arrogant!”

“Arrogant:” hupselo-phroneo, to think lofty-be haughty.

Tuphoo: To wrap in smoke.

  

You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth....

-Deuteronomy 8:17-18

Temptation Number Two:

"All these blessings are for me!"

"My use only!"

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

-Luke 12:48b

We have been blessed.

We are not that smart or good.

3 - Therefore, we will be rich in good deeds.

  

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

-1 Timothy 6:18

I want you to leverage your extra for the sake of the world in a way that only rich people can do! -Jesus

The more expendable time and income you have, the less percentage you give away in service to others.

The less extra time and income you have, the greater the percentage you give away in service to others.

Rich people have so much extra time that they have to think about how they are going to fill it with personal stuff!

The parent was without sentiment. He pecked at the desperately clinging talons until it was more painful for the poor chick to hang on than risk the insecurities of flying. The grip was released, and the inexperienced wings began pumping. The mature swallow knew what the chick did not, that it would fly—that there was no danger in making it do what it was perfectly designed to do.

-Eugene Peterson

  

  

  

  

What are your main take-aways from this message?

Make a Decision