"Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." Proverbs 30:8, 9.

"Having too much money can be dangerous, but so can having too little. Being poor can, in fact, be hazardous to spiritual as well as physical health. On the other hand, being rich is not the answer. As Jesus pointed out, rich people have trouble getting into God's Kingdom (Matthew 19:23, 24). Like Paul, we can learn 'how to be abased' or 'how to abound' (Philippians 4:12), but our lives are more likely to be effective if we have neither too much nor too little money." - Life Application Bible, p. 1124.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6.

"This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our lives on him ('godliness,' see Matthew 6:33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives ('contentment,' see Philippians 4:11-13)." - Life Application Bible, p. 2133.

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be conent. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:11-13.

"Are you content in any situation you face? Paul knew how to be content whether he had much or little. The secret was drawing upon Christ's power for strength. Do you have great needs, or are you discontented because you don't have what you want? Learn to rely on God's promises and Christ's power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you contentment in every situation. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that he knows is best for you....Paul was content because he could see life from God's point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. He had his priorities straight and was grateful for everything God had given him. He detached himself from nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in one's life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power." - Life Application Bible, p. 2092-2093.

Christ's Example

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9.

"There is no evidence that Jesus was any poorer than most first-century Palestinians, rather Jesus became poor by giving up his rights as God and becoming human. In his incarnation God voluntarily became man - the wholly human person, Jesus of Nazareth. As a man, Jesus was subject to place, time, and other human limitations. He did not give up his eternal power when he became human, but he did set aside his glory and his rights. In response to the Father's will, he limited his power and knowledge. He became 'poor' when he became human, for he set aside so much, yet by doing so, he made us 'rich' for we received salvation and eternal life." - Life Application Bible, p. 2039.

God's Care For All

"The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2.

Jesus said, "For the poor always ye have with you." John 12:8.

"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker." Proverbs 17:5.

"Few acts are as cruel as mocking those who are less fortunate, but many people do it because it makes them feel good to be better off or more successful than someone else. Mocking the poor is mocking the God who made them. We also mock God when we mock the weak, or those who are different, or anyone who is an easy target. When you catch yourself putting down others just for fun, stop and think about who created them." - Life Application Bible, p. 1103.

When a rich man asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life, Jesus answered: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." Matthew 19:21-23.

The eye of the needle was the gate into the city. In order for the camel to enter the city, the camel had to be stripped of its entire load, then stoop, unsaddled, through the narrow passage into the city.

"When Jesus told this young man that he would 'be perfect' if he gave everything he had to the poor, he wasn't speaking in the temporal, human sense. Jesus was explaining how to be 'justified,' made whole or complete, in God's sight. Should all believers sell everything they own? No. We are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our families so as not to be a burden on others. We should, however, be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so. This kind of attitude allows nothing to come between us and God and keeps us from using our God-given wealth selfishly. If you are comforted by the fact that Christ did not tell all his followers to sell all their possessions, then you may be too attached to what you have. We cannot love God with all our hearts and keep our money to ourselves. Loving him totally means using our money in ways that please him. Because it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, it appears impossible for a rich person to get into heaven. Jesus explained, however, that 'with God all things are possible' (Matthew 19:26). Even rich men can enter the Kingdom if God brings them in. Faith in him, not in self or riches, is what counts." - Life Application Bible, p. 1605-1606.

Promises Of A Gracious God

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart [spirit]" Psalm 37:1.

"We should never envy the wicked, even though some may be extremely popular or excessively rich. No matter how much they have, it will fade and vanish like grass that withers and dies. Those who follow God live differently from the wicked and, in the end, have far greater treasures in heaven. What the unbeliever gets may last a lifetime, if he is lucky. What you get from following God lasts forever." - Life Application Bible, p. 984.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God [with your spirit], and his righteousness [alikeness of the soul likened to Christ]; and all these things [material blessings or benefits] shall be added [gradually] unto you." Matthew 6:33.

"To seek 'first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness' means to turn to him first for help, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don't actively choose to give him first place in every area of your life." - Life Application Bible, p. 1569.

"For God giveth to a man that is good [keeps intense attention upon pleasing God] in his sight wisdom and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner [unrepentant] he giveth travail [trouble of soulishness without spiritual discernment], to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit." Ecclesiastes 2:26.

The greatest joy comes from a conscious knowledgeable wisdom that one is doing the right thing [in full view of the eye of God]. Spirit desires are the most valuable, for the soul cannot flourish without it being permitted, foundationed, and fashioned spiritually first. "Reality checks" are to be made "before" the communion table of the Broken Body and Spilled Blood of our Lord [Owner].

"A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power [cursed what God giveth generously] to eat thereof [mistaken all for a bowl of porridge], but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease." Ecclesiastes 6:2.

To go after the things in this temporary life, and neglect so great a salvation as Eternal Life awaiting us - as rearward - is to give honor where it is not due, and throw knowledgeable wisdom to draining the glory wherein is Christ; found in Revelation 5:12. "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."

Every vow to God should be made for the long-haul of this present life, or specifically and individually the haul that is longer of the rearward of Eternity's Life.

Ponder This

We can be more than good to others unknowingly; and leave the good God desires for us to become good for nothing.

"The best teacher, until one comes to adult pupils, is not the one who knows most, but the one who is most capable of reducing knowledge to that simple compound of the obvious and the wonderful which slips into the infantile comprehension.... The best teacher of children, in brief, is one who is essentially childlike." - H. L. Mencken, American Author-Journalist.

The Farmer's Prosperity?

A farmer conveyed to his pastor friend that he had a dream. In the dream he saw three large clouds in the sky. The one was shaped like a "P". The second cloud was shaped like a "C". And the third cloud was shaped like an "I". The farmer seemed exhilarated thinking they meant to Preach Cash's Interest. But the astute wise pastor of many year's knew the farmer a bit better than the farmer knew himself and replied: "Henry, the Lord gave you your work of providing food for the multitude - and like every other season of the year such as it is now, God is telling you to Plant Corn Instead."

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Life Application Bible Notes Used By Permission. Life Application Study Bible © 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved. Life Application is a registered trademark of Tyndale Publishers, Inc.