The riches of a believer in Christ is not measured by money or human currency which perishes. Eternal realities cannot be measured by perishable items, no matter how good they may look or the satisfaction they may bring.
Colossians 1:27 [AMP]:
God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.
Jesus Christ is the measure of the riches in the life of a believer, because in Him lies the eternal abundance of God. This is the difference between a believer in Christ and an unbeliever. The enlightenment of a believer in Christ in these realities, enables him to position himself far above earthly limitations and definitions in carrying out His Father's will.
Ephesians 1:18 [AMP]:
And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people).
In the second letter of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, he exercised this thought by making reference to the physical conditions of the church in Macedonia, which by human definition were poor, but in that condition a testimony of their liberality was made according to their good works, as they provided for their brethren in Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 8:2 [AMP]:
for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity.
The generosity of the Church in Macedonia was made possible by the grace of God which was bestowed upon them. The word bestowed is translated from the Greek word DEDOMENEN, which means to grant or provide. This clearly states that the good works exhibited by the Church in Macedonia was a work of grace and not of their personal effort.
Furthermore, the heavenly abundance of God was made possible through the humility of Jesus Christ that we may abound in good works, hence through these works which glorify God, our treasures are defined in heaven.
1 Timothy 6:17 [AMP]:
As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Timothy 6:18 [AMP]:
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others].
1 Timothy 6:19 [AMP]:
In this way storing up for themselves the enduring riches of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Paul the Apostle understanding this fact, stated thus in his second letter to the Corinthians;
2 Corinthians 8:21 [AMP]:
For we have regard for what is honorable [and above suspicion], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
THINGS TO NOTE:
1. Jesus Christ is the standard and measure for the riches of God.
2. A believer in Christ is blessed and has access to the abundance of God's riches.
3. The wealth of a believer in Jesus Christ is weighed by his or her good works in God through Christ. The works of believers in Christ would be tried through the fire 🔥.
4. Every resource given to the believer in Christ, whether great or small should be seen as a talent for good works in God. You won't be judged by God according to how much of the wealth you accumulated on the earth, or by how small you received, but what you did with it [The parable of talents].
5. On the day when believers would present themselves to God for their works to be tried, many believers who were rich on the earth but did not understand that the great resources in their hands were actually talents for God's work, would suddenly realize how poor they are before God, even after receiving the riches of God in Christ. More also, others who received little but with an understanding that what they received was a talent for good works will appear before the Master in great wealth.
6. An unbeliever, no matter how rich he is in the present world, is wretched and filthy before God because he trusted in uncertain riches of this world and not in God. He has no reward from God and everything he has including himself will perish because he rejected the true riches from God which is in Jesus Christ.
Blessings.
Min. Awe Hilary
#TheMessenger
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