Rich Toward God Luke 12:13-21
Introduction UUncertainty of riches Gone quickly (Proverbs 23:5) Danger of desiring wealth (Matthew 6:19, 20) Family neglected Exploitation (James 5:1-6)
Many ways to accumulate money Earn it Marry it Steal it True riches possessed by those who are rich toward God
A Test of Man’s Character Not wealth, but man’s attitude toward it (1 Timothy 6:10) Abraham (Genesis 13:2; 24:35) Job Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)
A Test of Man’s Character People today Parable of the sower (Matthew 13:22) People in show business Rich young ruler (Luke 18:23-25)
A Test of Man’s Character Testing of the unjust steward Remain faithful? (Luke 16:11, 12) Fail when trusting in riches (Proverbs 11:28)
Deceptive Great tool of Satan Eve (Genesis 3:1; 1 Timothy 2:14) Setting a trap involves knowing what one will do with the bait
Deceptive Deceitfulness of riches Hinders the Word (Matthew 13:22) Harmful (Ecclesiastes 5:10-15)
Deceptive Do not bring what is promised Never satisfied (Ecclesiastes 1:8) What’s left behind may be squandered (Luke 12:20)
True Wealth Involves Godliness Several possibilities Spiritually rich, but financially poor (Revelation 2:8-11) Spiritually poor, but financially rich (Revelation 3:17) Spiritually rich and financially rich (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
True Wealth Involves Godliness Godliness profitable for all things Promise of eternal life (1 Timothy 4:8) Too much concern about the physical
True Wealth Involves Godliness Perversions by false teachers Oral Robert’s “seed faith” Echoed by others
Oral Roberts For example, in 1985 Oral Roberts used words like “worry, fear, stress, problems and a sense of hopelessness” to convey his message that 1985 would be a terrible year for his “partners” but by sending in your seed-faith offering…
Oral Roberts “…it will “help you get your hundredfold return” and “STOP SATAN IN HIS HATE TO BRING YOU DOWN.” - (Hank Hanegraaff, Christianity in Crisis, p. 198)
Oral Roberts Another example, in January 1987, Oral and Richard Roberts used an “emotional appeal” that God would take Oral’s life if he didn’t raise 8 million dollars by March. - Hanegraaff, p. 196
Oral Roberts According to Word of Faith Movement (WFM) teacher Oral Roberts, “The seed of giving is the seed of Faith! And the seed has to be planted BEFORE we can speak to our mountain of need to be removed!” - Hanegraaff, pp. 195, 196)
Paul Crouch “If you’re broke, if you’re at your wit’s end, if you’re out of a job, out of work, let me tell ya. Not only are we gonna bless the world and preach Christ to millions and multitudes around the world, but you can be saved, yourself, by planting seed in this fertile soil called TBN.”(emphasis added) - President of Trinity Broadcast Network
Gloria Copeland “Give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000. I know that you can multiply, but I want you to see in black and white how tremendous the hundredfold return is…Give one house and receive one hundred houses or one house worth and one hundred times as much…
Gloria Copeland “Give one airplane and receive one hundred times the value of the airplane. Give one car and the return would furnish you a lifetime of cars. In short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal.” (wife of Kenneth Copeland - Hanegraaff, p. 199)
Robert Tilton “SEND ME YOUR GREEN PRAYER CLOTH AS MY POINT OF CONTACT WITH YOU!...WHEN I TOUCH YOUR CLOTH…IT WILL BE LIKE TOUCHING YOU!...When you touch this cloth, it will be like MY hand and touching me.
Robert Tilton “ I want the anointing that God has put upon my life for miracles of finances and prosperity to come directly from my hand to yours…You can reign in life like a king!” - Hanegraaff, p. 202)
True Wealth Involves Godliness Perversions by false teachers Oral Robert’s “seed faith” Echoed by others Not what Jesus said (Mark 10:29, 30) His subject was the growth of the kingdom
Conclusion Are you rich toward god? Where are your treasures?