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#10) Matthew 6:20
"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do
not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
Prosperity
True prosperity is measured in terms of eternal riches, not earthly
ones (verse 19). Job 22:25 says, "the Almighty will be your
gold, the choicest silver for you." God's blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old
hills (Genesis 49:26). God gives us the eternal treasures of
His kindness and patience (Romans 2:4), His glory (Romans 9:23), His wisdom
and knowledge (Romans 11:33), His glorious inheritance (Ephesians
1:18), His grace (Ephesians 1:7, 2:7), the boundless riches of Christ
(Ephesians 3:8), and the complete understanding of His mystery
(Colossians 1:27, 2:2). Also, Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good
name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."
Earthly Wealth
Still, God does not ignore us in terms our earthly wealth.
Genesis 49:25 tells us that God blesses us with "blessings of the skies
above, blessings of the deep springs below, and blessings of the breast
and womb." Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all
your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Psalm 128:2 teaches that "You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours." Likewise, 2
Thessalonians 3:10 says, "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
God's rule for accumulating earthly wealth is found in Proverbs 13:11,
"Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by
little makes it grow." It's not God's plan for us to become
wealthy by winning the lottery, or a jackpot at a casino. We
are to save, little by little, consistently over a number of years, and God will bless us.
Another principle for creating wealth is found in 2 Corinthians 12:14,
"Children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for
their children." God's plan is for parents to save an
inheritance for their children, rather than having the children take care of their parents (financially) in their old age.
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