Posted on 07/12/2022 6:49:36 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7).
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing,” there are three examples in the New Testament of persons that made themselves rich in a material sense, yet had nothing, really. When it came down to life and death and sin and hell, or heaven—they were broke—penniless. Who were they?
1. The rich man in Luke 16.
2. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19.
3. The rich farmer of Luke 12.
All three of those men were rich, but in reality, they had nothing. When it came to the true riches—eternal life, peace, and a relationship with God—they had nothing. We might even add Simon from Acts 8, he had religion, but it didn’t do him any good either.
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing,” the warning, as far as the Christian goes, is found in First Timothy 6 where we are warned about riches: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (vss. 9-10).
If a person is only interested in becoming rich, he is headed for disaster and destruction—especially if he uses religion as a means to that end. There are plenty of religious charlatans and prosperity gospel preachers out there that are making shipwreck of their lives, even though they may war a diamond ring and drive the most expensive cars.
The way to be rich is to be rich toward the Lord and in spiritual things—spiritual work and spiritual blessings—laying up treasure in heaven for all eternity.
“. . . there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches,” do we know Who this is referring to? Of course, the Lord Jesus Christ: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9). The Creator of the universe, the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills, yet “the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).
We can add the Apostles to this list: “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (II Corinthians 6:10).
You may sacrifice a great deal for the salvation of other people, and you may become poor. One man lived in an efficiency apartment in New York his whole life yet gave over a million dollars to missions. Only eternity knows how many souls will be in heaven because of his sacrifice. Believe me, it will be worth every dime! He lived in a one-room apartment. By the world’s standard, he had nothing—yet he had great riches in a heavenly bank account.
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For the love of money is the root of all evil
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One of the commonly misquoted verses of the Bible. The LOVE of money, not money itself.
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