Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
Summary: When God talks to us through his Word, he has to couch his message in terms that we can understand.
Why does a loving God need to talk about the “day of wrath?” Doesn’t that sound a bit extreme?
Whenever we talk about the Bible, we are talking about a message from God. The Bible tells us that God is Spirit (John 4:24). Isaiah records God saying:
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
The “day of wrath” is God’s way of describing what it feels like to be locked out of heaven. Keep in mind that when God says “righteousness delivers from death,” he is talking about the second death (Revelation 20:14). The physical body dies, no matter how righteous we are. It is our eternal soul that is at risk if we cannot stand before God completely righteous.
Since we cannot be righteous on our own (Romans 3:23), we need a Savior; Jesus Christ. Jesus’ perfect righteousness and sacrifice make it possible for all of us to be with him in heaven if we only acknowledge him as Lord.
That is why Solomon, arguably the richest man who ever lived, can say, “wealth is worthless in the day of wrath.” All good things come from God. If we are blessed with money, it is good to remember that it comes from God. Good stewards remember God is the source of our wealth, and they use the money for God’s glory. If we are owned by our money, we put our faith in it and rely on it more than we rely on God.
Application: Check your pocketbook. Where do you put your faith? In the currency there or on the promise “In God we Trust” written on the currency?
Food for Thought: What are some pros and cons of having wealth in this world?
What are some pros and cons of having wealth in this world?
The cons to wealth is that it may overtake space in your mind and cause you to forget your eternal mission. There was a line from a song I used to hear in church when I was a teenager, that I think fits the idea nicely: “May you never have so much, that you are a slave to what you own.”
Deut. 8.10-14 When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Luke 12.15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
The pro’s to wealth is that it gives one an opportunity to share and be generous, and at the same time, demonstrate God’s love through giving.
II Corinthians 9.11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Chris,
Thank you! Our neighbor moved out this weekend and was bemoaning all of the treasures that had to be given up because there was no room. The stuff that was taken was stuff that they ‘served.’ I have the same problem trying to clean out old stuff. So many mental connections that mean nothing to anyone else. Your comment about taking up “space in your mind” is spot on!
1 Timothy 6: 6 – 10, 17 – 19 reminds us to serve God with our wealth and not serve our wealth as God.
The wealthy can be generous and see their wealth as God’s and use His wealth to support eternal pursuits. Or they can love their money instead of God which leads to all kinds of evil. Matthew 6: 24.
I think it is also good to remember that the vast majority of Americans are in the top 2% of the wealthiest people who have ever lived on the earth. I think we tend to think of the wealthy as those who have more than us when in reality maybe we are the wealthy.
Brother Rich,
I appreciate you pointing out that we are the wealthy. Even the poorest people in this country have smartphones which represent incredible wealth and power compared to 100 years ago. (I say that realizing we can’t eat a smart phone!) We tend to take things for granted if they have been provided by others.
05-16-2022, Proverbs 11:4, What are some pros and cons of having wealth in this world?
Money can draw a person away from God. Money can provide the resource to expand God’s ministry on earth.
We each live on this world for only a moment. During this brief time we have opportunities to make choices which will effect our status for all eternity. How we respond to money, one of the gods of this world is one of the choices we get to make. God doesn’t evaluate us based on our income bracket, or physical possessions. God sees our heart. It is not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of money.
1 Timothy 6:10, Philippians 4:19
Choosing to serve the money god will possibly bring temporary satisfaction ( has no eternal value ) and is a moving target. There is always someone with more. Those who pursue money as their source of security will never have enough.
Our true wealth is our relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ who empowers us to live in this world but not as part of it.
The power to seek His kingdom, and trust His promise to care for us.
He supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ. He will not tempt anyone however He will provide for all our needs and in some cases this may include wealth to those who desire to expand His ministry to this world.
Luke 12:31, James 1:13-15
Thank you, Ron.
Great verses! Your point about using money to serve God is a good one. It makes me think of the faithful servant, Matthew 25: 14-30.
Good verses, it’s a privlagdge to quietly give as the Lord lays on our heart, rather than an obligation.