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Devotional - 99-05-02 - Verses about Material
Goods
It has been said that Jesus mentioned money more often than any other subject. Perhaps in the future one of us will treat this subject in-depth. For now, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but we will read some of what the word of God has to say about material goods.
Priorities
Mat 23:23 (NRSV) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.Mat 6:31-33 (NRSV) Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear? For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Mat 19:21 (NRSV) Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.
Prov 3:13-16 (NRSV) Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Wealth is Not Inherently Bad
God sometimes blesses us with it if we are obedient. Sometimes, but not always, wealth is associated with our behavior.
Mal 3:10 (NRSV) Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.Gen 30:41-43 (NRSV) Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob laid the rods in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the rods, but for the feebler of the flock he did not lay them there; so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. Thus the man grew exceedingly rich, and had large flocks, and male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.
Prov 6:10-11 (NRSV) A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.
Attitudes Toward Material Goods
1 Tim 3:2-3 (NRSV) Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.1 Tim 6:10 (NRSV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.