Introductory Thoughts
Some have mistakenly assumed riches suggest godliness. Their assumptions are based upon two fallacies: the poor experience poverty in relation to their sins against God, while the rich live abundantly because of their faithful obedience to the Lord. Although it is true that riches come from God, it is not true that righteousness is always rewarded with riches, while wickedness is always punished with poverty. Some of the most faithful believers in mankind’s history owned little more than the clothes that adorned their bodies. It is both unscriptural and dangerous to assume that these faithful believers were under the judgment of God. The Bible explicitly states the response toward those who suppose that gain is godliness. The Bible says, “from such withdraw thyself.”
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): The rich young ruler thought he was godly, but Jesus thought otherwise (Luke 18:18-24). Compare what Jesus thought of the poor widow (Luke 21:1-4). Gain does not mean godliness (Psalm 37:16).
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(For everyone): Who were some rich people in the scripture who lived wicked lives? Who were some righteous people who experienced poverty? How do these examples prove that gain is not godliness?
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Why would the supposition that gain is godliness be so dangerous that the Lord would tell His people to withdraw themselves from people who held such beliefs?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to help remind you that gain is not necessarily godliness.
- Ask the Lord to teach you how to live contently.
Song
I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS
