TRUST

 
March 28, 2020                                                     TRUST
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
Note that Jesus did not say that being rich was a problem or was a sin. What Jesus did address as a huge problem was where our hope lies. Jesus knew that all so often being rich leads to conceit, and He knew how easy it was for one who is rich to fix their hope and confidence on their riches. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 19:23 that it is difficult (not impossible) for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is difficult to give an exact definition of what it means to be rich; it is a relative term. Some would say that if you have food, clothing and housing, you are a rich person, while others would say when you have a large bank account, you are rich. All too often, our riches own us. Also, even though one may not have a lot, he can still find himself or herself trusting in what they do have-just like the rich man. I believe that God is not overly concerned about our money or lack of money, or riches or lack of riches, but is primarily concerned about the condition of our hearts. The neat part about these verses is that Jesus does not just tell them not to trust in riches, but goes on to give practical instructions on how to regard their riches. Note that God ‘richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.’  The key is that we realize that it is not through our personal wherewithal or our determination we get things to enjoy, but rather it is God who gives us the ability and the opportunity to ‘live and have our being.’ Acts 17:28. James reminds us in 1:17 that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” God is for us enjoying what He gives us! Joy is one of the hallmarks of the Christian faith. It’s beautifully simple-Jesus tells the rich “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,” Is there anything confusing about those instructions, or are these instructions difficult to put into action? Certainly not. A healthy mindset for those who are rich-and that includes most of us-is this: “What good works can I be about today? How can I be generous today? And what and how can I share with someone today?” That sounds over simplified to many, but that is exactly the mindset that pleases our Father. In fact, God is generous, full of good works, and ready to share-and we can be like Him in our everyday life! When we live with that mindset, we are storing up the treasure of a good foundation for the future and we take hold of that which is life indeed! Let us not labor under trying to figure everything out before we act, and let us not be waiting for God to ‘zap’ us, but let us be about today what Jesus has plainly instructed. Most importantly, let us examine ourselves and make sure that our trust is in God alone-not in our ability or our self effort, or even in our insurance policies, government programs or whatever. If you want to find life in deed, then put into action the instructions of the verses above.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your path.”             
Blessings,
Buddy
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