Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1946-05-23


Money, riches, possessions-that's
what men are living and striving
for In our day. II is going to seem
bit strange. but it will be very
salutary to stress once again the
eternal truth, best summarized by
our Lord Jesus when he said, "A
mans life consisteth not in the
abundance Of the things which he
possesseth" duke 1919.
1. Don't Depend on Riches d2:1s,
20).
The rich man increased In selfish
ness as he increased In wealth He
began to feel secure because he had
laid UP much goods. Now he be-
came proud and boastful He
thought he saw years of comfort
and ease ahead, Evidently he had
not read, or did not believe. the
words of Scripture. Boast not thy
self of tomorrow; for thou knowest
not what day may bring forth"
prov. 27:1: see also James Alb
ID.
Well, can a, man depend on
riches? The answer is no. They
are here today and gone tomorrow.
Man himself is here today and gone
tomorrow. When he goes, he leaves
all that he has unless he has invest
ed il for God.
Money Is like broken reed. The
man who leans on 1t will not only
fall, but will pierce himself through
with many sorrows Il. Tim. $50, 10)
Don't depend on riches-they will
miserably fail you in your hour of
need.
II. Beware Of the Snare Of Riches
(18: 24-2O.
The rich young ruler had come
running to Jesus to seek eternal life,
but had turned away sorrowfull
when he found that a man cannot
love money and love God at the
same time.
Jesus improved the opportunity to
point out that II is impossible for a
rich man to be saved, except as the
grace of God gets hold Of him and
sets him free from dependence on
his wealth.
Apart from the. grace of God. II
Is so easy for rich man or woman
to trust in riches, and to feel Nc
need Of God.
Look again at l Timothy $40, 10
and you will see that even the de-
sire to be rich leads a man into a
temptation and snare. The man
of God is warned to fee these
things; and follow after righteous.
ness. goodness. faith, love. patience,
meekness," and thus to be able to
fight the good fight Of faith" Il Tim
GIL, 12).
We repeat that all this has a
strange sound to modern ears. SC
accustomed to the worldly philos
ophy of trust in things and in dol
lars. We need to warn our young
men and women about the awful
danger Of loving money.
There is something infinitely bet
ter than riches, and that is what we
find in our next point.
III. Seek True Riches In Christ Q8:
28-30).
Peter and the other disciples had
forsaken all the things Of the world
to follow Christ. and now as he re.
minds the Lord of that fact, he re.
ceives the assurance that there Is
higher level Of riches and reward
for the loyal disciple.
God will never be In debt to any.
one. There Is no sacrifice made
for his glory which does not hnd Its
glorious recompense, and no bur.
den borne for his sake which does
not bring its rich reward.
All this is not the result Of some
kind of ? deal with God. We dc
not serve him because we expect a
reward, but the assurance Of the re.
ward is there to encourage and spur
us on in life and service for him.
The fact is. spiritual currency has
far higher value than gold and sill
yer Of this world.
~. Ask Christ 10 Deliver You
From Riches u9: 1-10).
Zacchaeus was a man well versed
In the devious ways Of the extor'
toner He knew money. and how
to make 1t. But he was not salts.
fed. He knew there was something
more worth while than riches. His
life was empty.
He sought Jesus. One look from
the Master and he knew that h,
must lay his sinful heart open be-
fore him in confession. Salvation
came to Zacchaeus that day.
Here, then. is the way to be de
Iivered from the snare Of riches
take Jesus Christ as your Saviour
and Lore. He may then entrus
riches to your care to use for him
but he will deliver you from ;
love for gold and from the folly o
putting your trust In IT,
The person who lives for riches
Is lost ". 10). caught in snare
q Tim. SO. 1O. trusting In some
thing that will fail him when mos
needed luke 1919. 20), and trust
ing something which will keep hin
from God duke 18:24-2D. unlesl
there is grace to fee from it and turr
70 God
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