By Donald Pinnock
The majority of people in this world are caught up in the relentless pursuit of material wealth and possessions to the point that other facets of life are being neglected, such as their health and meaningful relations with their fellowmen, even their relatives. It is as if they feel that life is incomplete without possessing abundant material riches or things of this world. But what should we understand concerning the wealth of this world? Proverbs 27:24 teaches this:
“Because wealth is not permanent. Not even nations last forever.” (Today’s English Version)
Temporary and not permanent
The history of mankind attests to how many nations became powerful and wealthy but eventually lost their glories. Even on an individual level, there are countless rags-to-riches-and-back-to-rags stories that boggle the mind. Why do the riches of this world not remain or are not permanent? Our Lord Jesus utters the following:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:19-20, New King James Version)
The impermanence of things is also clearly manifest in the field of art. For example, numerous works of art that are held in high regard, such as classic paintings and ancient pottery or furniture, are susceptible to damages due to environmental and atmospheric changes. Despite modern preservation techniques, these objects of admiration will decay. As for precious metals and stones that are usually fashioned into jewelry and can stand much better the rigors of time, they are constantly sought by thieves and robbers for their endearing beauty and worth. In view of the uncertainty and impermanence of material wealth, what is the admonition of our Savior? He says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.”
Why else should one not put his hope in the riches of this world?
“Riches will do you no good on the day you face death…” (Prov. 11:4, TEV)
No matter how much wealth a person may amass in his life, it cannot keep him from dying, nor will it benefit him on the day he dies. All that he has stored up in his life as personal possessions will only be left for others to enjoy, since he cannot bring them with him down to the grave (Ps. 49:10). When will wealth most especially be of no use? On the day of Judgment, as so written in Zephaniah 1:18:
“Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of his jealously the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.” (New International Version)
Man needs to work, and there is nothing wrong with attaining material riches. But one should always remember that material wealth has a limitation or is temporary. Come death, and even more so the day of Judgment, such wealth is useless.
Wealth that endures
Is there a kind of wealth that is beneficial even when a person dies, and more so on the day of Christ’s return? The Lord God pronounces:
“With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.” (Prov. 8:18, Ibid.)
The Father in heaven makes known that there is an enduring or lasting wealth to be gained. But how can one obtain it? The apostle Paul reveals the following:
“I am less than the least of all God’s people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, and of making all people see how God’s secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages.” (Eph. 3:8-9, TEV)
Riches or wealth that lasts can only be found in Christ. But what kind of wealth is being referred to here? Proverbs 13:7-8, states:
“There is one who makes himself rich , yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke.” (NKJV)
The true wealth that all people should aspire for is not that which we can physically hold and admire, but rather it is the spiritual treasure- the redemption of one’s life that can only be gained through Christ.
Gaining the true wealth
How can one be redeemed or ransomed through Christ? Romans 5:8-10 teaches this:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Ibid.)
It is through the shed blood of Christ that one is justified or redeemed, and thus will be saved from the wrath of God. The importance of being ransomed through Christ can never be overstated, for without Him, we would still be under the law of sin (Rom. 8:2) which is none other than death:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23, NKJV)
The death being referred to as the full payment of sin is the second death in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14) that is supposed to be experienced by all men since all have sinned (Rom. 3:23). This is why Christ and His blood are indispensable for man’s deliverance from God’s judgment of death in the lake of fire. But where can we find those who have benefited from the redemptive power of the blood of Christ? Apostle Paul says:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Transalation)
It is the members of the Church of Christ, ransomed through Christ’s blood, who will be spared from God’s wrath on the day of Judgment.
This is the wealth that all people should strive for most of all: not for the things of this world that will lose all value when one dies and /or on the return of Christ, but that which is infinitely more beneficial, since it is the only treasure that will lead us to everlasting life, as expressed by the apostles:
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Heb. 9:15, NIV)
As we make our way through life, working hard to meet our daily needs and even trying to get ahead, let us give more priority to that which is profoundly of more importance – the enduring wealth of eternal life that is gained through the blood of Christ, by being members of the Church of Christ until the end.
Source: PASUGO GOD’s MESSAGE. January 2009. Volume 61.Number1.ISSN 0116-1636. (Pages 26-28)
The majority of people in this world are caught up in the relentless pursuit of material wealth and possessions to the point that other facets of life are being neglected, such as their health and meaningful relations with their fellowmen, even their relatives. It is as if they feel that life is incomplete without possessing abundant material riches or things of this world. But what should we understand concerning the wealth of this world? Proverbs 27:24 teaches this:
“Because wealth is not permanent. Not even nations last forever.” (Today’s English Version)
Temporary and not permanent
The history of mankind attests to how many nations became powerful and wealthy but eventually lost their glories. Even on an individual level, there are countless rags-to-riches-and-back-to-rags stories that boggle the mind. Why do the riches of this world not remain or are not permanent? Our Lord Jesus utters the following:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:19-20, New King James Version)
The impermanence of things is also clearly manifest in the field of art. For example, numerous works of art that are held in high regard, such as classic paintings and ancient pottery or furniture, are susceptible to damages due to environmental and atmospheric changes. Despite modern preservation techniques, these objects of admiration will decay. As for precious metals and stones that are usually fashioned into jewelry and can stand much better the rigors of time, they are constantly sought by thieves and robbers for their endearing beauty and worth. In view of the uncertainty and impermanence of material wealth, what is the admonition of our Savior? He says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.”
Why else should one not put his hope in the riches of this world?
“Riches will do you no good on the day you face death…” (Prov. 11:4, TEV)
No matter how much wealth a person may amass in his life, it cannot keep him from dying, nor will it benefit him on the day he dies. All that he has stored up in his life as personal possessions will only be left for others to enjoy, since he cannot bring them with him down to the grave (Ps. 49:10). When will wealth most especially be of no use? On the day of Judgment, as so written in Zephaniah 1:18:
“Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of his jealously the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.” (New International Version)
Man needs to work, and there is nothing wrong with attaining material riches. But one should always remember that material wealth has a limitation or is temporary. Come death, and even more so the day of Judgment, such wealth is useless.
Wealth that endures
Is there a kind of wealth that is beneficial even when a person dies, and more so on the day of Christ’s return? The Lord God pronounces:
“With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.” (Prov. 8:18, Ibid.)
The Father in heaven makes known that there is an enduring or lasting wealth to be gained. But how can one obtain it? The apostle Paul reveals the following:
“I am less than the least of all God’s people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, and of making all people see how God’s secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages.” (Eph. 3:8-9, TEV)
Riches or wealth that lasts can only be found in Christ. But what kind of wealth is being referred to here? Proverbs 13:7-8, states:
“There is one who makes himself rich , yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke.” (NKJV)
The true wealth that all people should aspire for is not that which we can physically hold and admire, but rather it is the spiritual treasure- the redemption of one’s life that can only be gained through Christ.
Gaining the true wealth
How can one be redeemed or ransomed through Christ? Romans 5:8-10 teaches this:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Ibid.)
It is through the shed blood of Christ that one is justified or redeemed, and thus will be saved from the wrath of God. The importance of being ransomed through Christ can never be overstated, for without Him, we would still be under the law of sin (Rom. 8:2) which is none other than death:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23, NKJV)
The death being referred to as the full payment of sin is the second death in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14) that is supposed to be experienced by all men since all have sinned (Rom. 3:23). This is why Christ and His blood are indispensable for man’s deliverance from God’s judgment of death in the lake of fire. But where can we find those who have benefited from the redemptive power of the blood of Christ? Apostle Paul says:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Transalation)
It is the members of the Church of Christ, ransomed through Christ’s blood, who will be spared from God’s wrath on the day of Judgment.
This is the wealth that all people should strive for most of all: not for the things of this world that will lose all value when one dies and /or on the return of Christ, but that which is infinitely more beneficial, since it is the only treasure that will lead us to everlasting life, as expressed by the apostles:
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Heb. 9:15, NIV)
As we make our way through life, working hard to meet our daily needs and even trying to get ahead, let us give more priority to that which is profoundly of more importance – the enduring wealth of eternal life that is gained through the blood of Christ, by being members of the Church of Christ until the end.
Source: PASUGO GOD’s MESSAGE. January 2009. Volume 61.Number1.ISSN 0116-1636. (Pages 26-28)
