Surely there couldn’t be any more passages that address this issue. Or could there? Take a look at these other passages. The Bible seems to have a little more to say. Are these complimentary to those of last week or do they contradict? Are they further evidence? Please jot down your thoughts as you read these.
Deut 31:14-21 ________________________
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Prov 28:20 _________________________________________________
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Prov 18:11 ________________________________________________
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Prov 28:11 _________________________________________________
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Prov 18:23 _______________________________________________
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James 5:1-6 _________________________________________________
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Ps 52:1-7 _________________________________________________
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Prov 11:4 _______________________________________________
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Prov 11:16 ________________________________________________
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Prov 27:24 __________________________________________________
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Eccl 4:7-8 _______________________________________________
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Prov 11:28 ________________________________________________
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WOW! And double yikes!! What a list!!! Are you feeling nervous, anxious, concerned, worried?? Of course not. I know what you are thinking. This doesn’t apply to me. How could it apply to me? I’M NOT RICH!!!
Well, let’s go back and look at the definition of rich you found in your dictionary. Mine said rich meant the following:
- Well supplied with goods or money or land, etc. Are you well supplied?
- (Costly) Possessions in abundance. Do you have costly possessions in abundance?
- More than enough to satisfy normal desires or needs. Do you have more than enough to satisfy normal desires/needs?
- Possession of intrinsically valuable things. Do you own some intrinsically valuable things?
- The continuing increase of material possessions. Do you have more material possessions now than you did a year ago? How about a month ago? How about a week ago?
- Ostentatious wealth. Do you own anything you purchased with the intention of attracting notice or to impress others?
- Several years ago I purchased a 1984 Cadillac Seville (below). Couldn’t afford one of these till it was 20 years old. I just love the body style. Isn’t it cute? Classic look. Low miles. Showroom condition. It attracted notice and I got kidded so much I felt guilty driving it. Totaled it in the first year of ownership. Insurance company disagreed with me about how much it was worth. They won.
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Deuteronomy 31:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, [a]the time for you to die is near; call Joshua, and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the tent of meeting. NASB
Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished. NASB
Proverbs 18:11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. NASB
Proverbs 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding [a]sees through him. NASB
Proverbs 18:23 The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly. NASB
James 5:1-6 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of [a]Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [b]fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and [c]put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. NASB
Psalm 52:1-7 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long. 2 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. 3 You love evil more than good, Falsehood more than speaking what is right.
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.5 [d]But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, And uproot you from the land of the living. 6 The righteous will see and fear, And will laugh at him, saying, 7 “Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in [e]his evil desire. NASB
Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. NASB
Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches. NASB
Proverbs 27:24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. NASB
Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a [a]dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task. NASB
Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. NASB