AFFLUENCE (2)

Godly affluence

Exodus 3:8 NIV

8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Isaiah 66:12 NIV

12 For this is what the Lord says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.

Is 66:12

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Examples of affluence

Genesis 2:9–10 NIV

9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.

Ge 2:9-10

Genesis 13:2 NIV

2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.

Ge 13:2

Genesis 26:12–13 NIV

12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.

Ge 26:12-13

Eden; Abraham; Isaac; Jacob; Job

Solomon:

1 Kings 3:13 NIV

13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

Matthew 27:57 NIV

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.

Mt 27:57

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Hezekiah; Joseph of Arimathea

The dangers of affluence

Pride

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 NIV

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Dt 8:17-18

Psalm 73:3–6 NIV

3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.

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Reliance upon riches

Proverbs 11:28 NIV

28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Pr 11:28

1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

17 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.

1 Ti 6:17

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Over-attachment to riches

Matthew 19:22 NIV

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

TEMPTATION

Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

Temptation

1 Timothy 6:9–10 NIV

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Cares and anxieties

Matthew 13:22 NIV

22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Spiritual complacency

Revelation 3:17 NIV

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Contempt for God

Proverbs 30:8–9 NIV

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Pr 30:8-9

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Affluence is temporary

It is for this life only

1 Timothy 6:7 NIV

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Psalm 37:35–36 NIV

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

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IT IS OFTEN LOST

Ecclesiastes 5:13–14 NIV

13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.

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Spiritual affluence

The riches of God

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:9 NIV

As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”

Ephesians 3:8 NIV

8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

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Spiritual wealth

Ephesians 1:3 NIV

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

1 Peter 1:4 NIV

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

Revelation 2:9 NIV

9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

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The shared wealth of the church

Mark 10:29 NIV

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel

Acts 4:34–35 NIV

34 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 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Acts 4:34 NIV

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

Philippians 4:18 NIV

18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

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The wealth of heaven

Matthew 6:20 NIV

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Luke 12:33 NIV

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Revelation 7:16–17 NIV

16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

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