Skip to main content

'Riches are uncertain'

Subhead
Built on a Rock
By
Pastor Roger Sparks, Luverne Christian Reformed Church

Recently I preached on 1 Timothy 6, including verse 17 which says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant or 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.” Notice three things in this verse.
1. Wealth and arrogance often go together. The more wealth we have the more tempting it is to think that we and our opinions are more important than those of others who have less wealth.
2. Riches are uncertain. Due to the COVID-19 situation more than a few people are facing financial pressures they didn’t see coming. The wisdom of Proverbs 23:5 is vividly stated: “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone. For they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” Not all fortunes are lost. But they can be lost. So let us put our hope, not in created things but in our Creator, whose promises are certain.
3. God provides good things for us to enjoy. Even though we live in a sin-broken world, God remains good and He treats us far better than we deserve. He makes the sun rise on the just and the unjust. Hopefully we have eyes to see God’s goodness to us even in the midst of trials.
I remember a camping vacation in the Black Hills of South Dakota. A friend and I put in a canoe at Horsethief Lake. There wasn't a boat ramp, so we carried it down to the water’s edge and launched it where a little stream flows into the lake. We explored the lake and tried our luck at fishing without much initial success.
Later the weather turned against us. A thunderstorm rolled through. It poured. Lightning struck nearby. We felt the thunder in our chests.
Realizing that fishing poles could function like lightning rods, we set them aside and scampered to a nearby public bathroom (glorified outhouse) where we took shelter under an overhang. Between peals of thunder my friend and I discussed how dead we’d be if lightning struck a nearby tree.
The storm passed. We came out of hiding. A few minutes later we heard the noise of rushing water. I looked over to where the canoe was beached. It was being swept out into the lake. The little stream had become a wild torrent. It had rained higher in the hills and the runoff was gushing into the lake. Good thing I can swim! All’s well that ends well. I retrieved the canoe. Eventually I caught a rainbow trout.
What a memorable day! My friend and I felt small and insignificant compared to God’s power that we saw in the storm and heard in the thunder and felt in the surging creek. We were grateful to God for keeping the lightning just far enough away from us that we lived to fish another day. We were amazed by the beauty of the lake and trees and clearing skies. We were blessed to see God’s creative genius in the beautiful fish I caught. As James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
God really does provide good things for us to enjoy. May we put our hope in Him, remembering that the best gift is God Himself. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” John 3:16. Believe. Receive. Give thanks!

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.