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True Riches

Luk 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

The world we live in offers the potential for things the natural man desires such as wealth, power, fame, and pleasure. However, the Christian should be able to see in these nothing that satisfies or lasts. Consider a high school student who wants to find acceptance with a social group. He might seek approval by buying the right clothes, saying the right things, or mocking the targeted people. Even in the unlikely event he gains group approval, such acceptance is shallow, temporary, and ultimately unsatisfying.

It is true that those in the world look favorably on those who embrace its values (John 15:19). However, Christians should see themselves as living in a different world. Many in the world would see rejecting their world as crazy because it would mean the loss of advantages like wealth, fame, power, and pleasure. However, these “advantages” are consumptive and do not last. Moses made a choice to turn his back on these “advantages” because he sought something of greater value (Heb 11:25).

One might see in parenthood two different ways that describe true verses false riches. It used to be that only the very rich could hire people to raise their children for them. However with public education, daycare, and social media, even parents who want to make an investment of themselves in their children find it difficult. Additionally, parents who themselves were raised in a similar system can find that they themselves have acquired little with which to invest.

Components of true riches are depth, that which lasts, selflessness, and that which is true. In the parable Jesus instructs his disciples that rather than use the resources of the world to gain an advantage in later employment, that those resources, if used to exhort others to faithfulness, would result in their being welcomed into the age to come.

Christians may not often consider that they are running an account (Phil 4:17). That we will be called to that account (Rom 14:12). We also will have that account judged (1Cor 3:11-15). While wil live for now in a world that is transient, we will live for much longer in a world that is eternal. It is with this in view that we may make investments in those “riches” that last rather than investing ourselves that that which is only for a moment.

To be effective in true riches, we might consider using Jesus as an example (Eph 4:15). Jesus is called the word of God (John 1:1-4). It would follow that the more we immersed ourselves in the bible, the more we would be changed to be useful to God (1Thess 2:13). Additionally, Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit would like to work in us to make us more Christ-like (Gal 5:22-24). Our participation in the work of the Holy Spirit is to not hinder him by indulging the flesh (Gal 5:16-17).

Satan tempted Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world (Luke 4:6). This may not have been as powerful a temptation as Satan imagined. One who can see truth would not find all that the world offers as that compelling. Especially for one who is truth (John 14:6).

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