The rights to private property and personal freedom are inseparable. However wealth from inappropriate means and misuse of money can often get us into trouble.
James 5: 2-3, "Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire." Wow, harsh words! Silver and gold don't have the ability to rust, so he was actually talking about their hearts. Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
2 Cor 12:14, 1 Timothy 5:8, It is necessary and encouraged to save and provide for family. However it is wrong to store up money if you owe someone else. James focuses on not only what we do with our wealth but how we earn it. And we are all wealthy here in America, we put our spare change in car ash trays.
Deut 24:14- "Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns."
Each of us have people that we hire, even if we are not a business owner. We all have bills to pay, credit cards, mortgages, rent, etc. and each have their terms when the money should be provided to them and they expect to be payed on time. Honor and integrity should be talked about more these days.
Leviticus 19:13
Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
Are we investing for the long term? A common Quaker saying is "tell me what thou need and I will tell you how to live without it."
Now is a good time to streamline, get out of debt and become mobile! Of the ten commandments, there is one that is in the heart: coveting, which deals with motivations of the heart.
Now wealth is not a bad thing, there were godly men who were able to handle wealth, such as Abraham and Job.
Wealth can bring uncertainty but the only certain thing we know is that we will stand before the Lord someday.
If our heart is set on things we will soon become discouraged. However if it is set on the Lord, we will be uplifted knowing that He will soon return and climax his promises!
We should be redeeming the time, a sense of urgency to make everyday count. Create alternatives with each opportunity.
In Schindler's List, he realized towards the end, the long term implications of his short term actions. There were wasteful years but if he had been a little more committed and aware of his stewardship he could have saved more people.
What good is a million dollar house without a home? What good is a million dollar diamond ring without love?
What we keep, we lose, but what we give to the Lord, we not only keep but get interest on.
Music Video "Rich Young Ruler" by Derek Webb:
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