RICH POVERTY (2 OF 7)
Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11
This content is part of a series.
Rich Poverty (2 of 7)
Series: 7 Churches In Revelation
Dennis Marquardt
Rev. 2:8-11; James 1:2-4,12
INTRO: In western society we have been raised to believe that wealth brings happiness and joy ... that poverty brings pain and ignorance. Our lives are heavily geared around making more money, gaining more things, always looking for carefree living.
Ironically, those who are the wealthiest are far from the happiest people. The Bible teaches that there are 2 kinds of wealth ... that of this world, and that of the Kingdom of God!
While the world's wealth is not easy to gain that of the Kingdom is available to all at any time! Many times worldly wealth gets in the way of spiritual wealth, hence Jesus' statement to His disciples that "it is easier for camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God!"
ILLUS: One day a certain old rich man of a very miserable disposition visited a rabbi. The rabbi took him by the hand and led him to a window. "Look out this window and tell me what you see," said the rabbi to the rich man. "I see fathers, mothers, children, and other people." Again the rabbi took the rich man by the hand and led him to a mirror in the room. Again the question by the rabbi, "Now what do you see?" The rich man responded, "I see myself." Then the rabbi made his point, "Both the window and this mirror are made of glass, the mirror however has been coated with silver, and no sooner than this silver has been added to the glass and it causes you to see no one but yourself ... how like this riches can be. Wealth's addition to our lives can cause us to see only our own life ... and no one else!"
Do we seek spiritual riches with the same tenacity and efforts that we are seeking worldly wealth?
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches that true wealth often comes when we are without this world's wealth. Some of God's great principles of life are best learned in the absences of worldly goods. Suffering is ...
Series: 7 Churches In Revelation
Dennis Marquardt
Rev. 2:8-11; James 1:2-4,12
INTRO: In western society we have been raised to believe that wealth brings happiness and joy ... that poverty brings pain and ignorance. Our lives are heavily geared around making more money, gaining more things, always looking for carefree living.
Ironically, those who are the wealthiest are far from the happiest people. The Bible teaches that there are 2 kinds of wealth ... that of this world, and that of the Kingdom of God!
While the world's wealth is not easy to gain that of the Kingdom is available to all at any time! Many times worldly wealth gets in the way of spiritual wealth, hence Jesus' statement to His disciples that "it is easier for camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God!"
ILLUS: One day a certain old rich man of a very miserable disposition visited a rabbi. The rabbi took him by the hand and led him to a window. "Look out this window and tell me what you see," said the rabbi to the rich man. "I see fathers, mothers, children, and other people." Again the rabbi took the rich man by the hand and led him to a mirror in the room. Again the question by the rabbi, "Now what do you see?" The rich man responded, "I see myself." Then the rabbi made his point, "Both the window and this mirror are made of glass, the mirror however has been coated with silver, and no sooner than this silver has been added to the glass and it causes you to see no one but yourself ... how like this riches can be. Wealth's addition to our lives can cause us to see only our own life ... and no one else!"
Do we seek spiritual riches with the same tenacity and efforts that we are seeking worldly wealth?
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches that true wealth often comes when we are without this world's wealth. Some of God's great principles of life are best learned in the absences of worldly goods. Suffering is ...
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