BEING RICH—5 RICH TOWARD GOD1.You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.2.You didn’t go to sleep outside.3.You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning.4.You hardly broke a sweat today.5.You didn’t spend a minute in fear.6.You have access to clean drinking water.7.You have access to medical care.8.You have access to the Internet.9.You can read.10.You have the right to vote.Review 1. I am Rich; I will be Good At Being Rich2. I Will Place My Trust In God. 3. Because I Have More I can Give More4. Because I am Rich in Good Deeds (Do More) •WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR MONEY AND TIME REVEALS WHAT YOU VALUE IN YOUR HEART.Where your treasure is—there your heart will be alsoWhat does the way you spend your time & money say you value most?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DON’T BE RICH IN THE WRONG WAY “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ Mistake he made he believed that more was always for him!20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21God wasn’t angry w/the man because he was rich! God gives wealth. God called him a fool because he didn’t know “how to be rich!”Rich toward himself but not rich toward God.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HOW TO BE RICH TOWARD GOD17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Tim 6:17-19-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notice—Paul didn’t say, “Suggest to those rich people,” but “Command them!” This is serious! Don’t miss the it!(((we are rich!)))When you get to the part about truly life—punch it!Remember—money promises what only God can provide. We will not settle for worldly riches—we want to be rich toward God.We will take hold of the life that is truly life!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------•GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH MORE THAN I NEED. I’M RICH. I WILL NOT TRUST IN RICHES BUT IN HIM WHO RICHLY PROVIDES. BECAUSE I HAVE MORE, I WILL GIVE MORE AND DO MORE.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HOW TO BE RICH TOWARD GOD•GOD WANTS YOU TO BE RICH IN GOOD DEEDS.18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds… 1 Tim 6:18If you haven’t noticed, many people are becoming more skeptical about Christianity and Christians. When they find out you believe in Christ—some will want to find fault! So what will you do?12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:12Don’t totally agree with what those Christians believe—But they are so nice, helpful, always doing good!Our good deeds point to God—never to us!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Either story about how someone served you & pointed you to Christ… Or story about someone on campus serving & pointing to ChristConclude story: You can do that for others! God can use you to point people toward Christ and glorify God on your behalf!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------•GOD WANTS YOU TO BE RICH IN GENEROSITY.25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Prov 11:25“We will lead the way with irrational generositybecause we truly believe it’s more blessed to give!”Honor to lead a generous people!Brag on ABC for being generous and how that makes difference.Tell a story of someone being generous and make tie in of how it impacts lives! Don’t let it just be a generosity story—but specifically tie in how it makes a difference! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------•GOD WANTS YOU TO BE RICH IN RELATIONSHIPS.If you are simply rich in money—you are missing what matters most!34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35Tell story being involved with church people. Since we are already rich—we will stop longing for the things of this world and focus on living for the things of God—then we’ll have life that is truly life. Instead of being rich toward ourselves—we’ll be rich toward God.Why? Say it with me… Because… God has blessed us with more than we need. We’re rich. We will not trust in riches, but in Him who richly provides. Because we have more, we will give more and do more… all for His glory!That’s how to be rich!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.” C.T Studd
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