Topic: Don’t let riches prevent you from serving God
Bible Reading: Hosea 12-14; Revelation 3.
Memory Verse: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17 (KJV).
A number of people go through tough times and when they get wealth, they often ignorantly trace their wealth to their hard work and forget the God factor. They forget that everything a man has is given to him by God. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV), “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
When you recognise the creation but neglect the creator, then you are making a big mistake. You should always remember that God who has the power to give you what you have also have the power to take you away from that wealth. Of what value is it to a man to make so much wealth but unable to enjoy it. That was the case with a certain rich man in one of the parables that Jesus told in Luke 12:16-21. His farm yielded so much and he planned to build a new barn and start enjoying the fruit of his Labour without appreciating God or asking Him on what to do. That night his life was taken and he never enjoyed the fruit of his Labour. And Jesus’ conclusion is very instructive in Luke 12:21 (KJV) where he says , “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Sometimes God decides to bless someone mightily and He expects such a person to remain grateful to Him as was the case with Ephraim. He was the younger brother of Mannaseh and when they were to be blessed by their grandfather, Israel in Genesis 48:11-20, he crossed his hands and gave double blessing to the younger Ephraim instead of the elder, Manasseh. Though their father, Joseph, contested it, the grandfather, Jacob, insisted that that is the way it is ordained. So Ephraim was favoured but became so rich that he neglected God and after several warnings, God left him and said he would be desolate. (Hosea 5:9). You will never become desolate in Jesus name. Because Ephraim kept focusing on his wealth instead of God, he angered the Almighty and the position of God concerning him is in Hosea 12:14 (KJV), “Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.”
It is important you recognise that wealth can always fly away and cannot give overall protection without God. This is why Revelation 3:17 (KJV) tells us, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” May you never become miserable, blind or naked in Jesus name. And if you are already following that path due to your wealth, please make a change today and follow God with your heart.
Action point: If you have neglected God, please repent of your sins today, ask for forgiveness and make a solemn decision to be close to God.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero
