We all like the word “riches” because it means having a lot of something, especially money and valuable things.
But do these material things mean true riches? Many believers think that God decides who becomes rich and who becomes poor. Is this true?
If you think so, then why do we pray for God to provide for our needs?
You see, either God is good or he is not. Look around – does money and wealth truly make people happy or create a happy home and family?
Your answer is the same as mine, but this does not mean money itself is bad. It depends on who has it and how they use it.
Together, we will scrutinize the Bible text to define true riches or authentic richness.
Table of Contents
BIBLE VERSE
In Luke 16 vs. 11 the King James Version reads: “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true (riches)?
One rule of Bible interpretation is that you do not interpret a verse out of its context, you have to also look at the pre-text and the post text so if you carefully look at Luke 16, you would see that Jesus was speaking Parables, the parable began at Luke 15 then into Luke 16.
The true essence of a parable lies in the profound truth it conveys. Thus, we must pay heed not merely to the surface story, but delve deeper to grasp the underlying meaning and message it aims to impart.
From Luke 16 verses 1 – 10, you would notice that the unjust steward was self-seeking and self-indulgent, using deceit to secure his future.
Now for us believers, we can’t be self-seeking and self-indulgent and at the same time seek or serve God.
Secondly, mammon means riches, money, or wealth while true riches mean everything we have received from Christ’s redemptive work, these things are eternal and money cannot buy or give us.
Wealth (Mammon) and material possessions are temporary, but God’s love is eternal. To experience true spiritual riches, we must shed selfishness which isn’t part of the New Creation.
The renowned Bible Teacher W.E. Kenyon will always say in almost all his books that selfishness is one of the major problems of the unsaved man while the new creation is created in Love.
The salvation we receive through Christ cultivates a heart that seeks not only personal gain but also the well-being of others.
With this transformed mindset, we can embrace the lasting fulfillment found in God’s boundless love.
In Luke 16 vs. 10, the Bible says “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
In context, “the least” here is riches or mammon, in other words, in the eyes of God, riches are little.
To expand on this, we will have to take a trip to the book of I Timothy 6 vs. 17 – 19: Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Verse 18: That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Verse 19: Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
You can see that the Believer is instructed not to trust in uncertain riches but rather we should trust in the goodness of God who gives us all things freely.
Scripture encourages us to use our wealth for the benefit of others, describing this as being “rich in good works.” Is this not our purpose? I believe it is.
EXAMPLES OF TRUE RICHES
Below are some examples of true riches:
- The Gift of the Holy Spirit
- Peace with God
- The complete work of redemption
- The Forgiveness of Sins
- The gift of righteousness
- Eternal Life
To begin, we will look at Colossians 2 vs 10 (KJV): And ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power:
The new birth is a complete process or definite event and not an ongoing process.
Nothing is missing in the new birth and nothing is broken, stop looking for what you lack in the new creation. Jesus did a perfect and complete work! Glory to God!
As a believer, know this truth: you are complete in Christ and it is this knowledge that gives you confidence that you are the head over all power and principality of Satan.
Colossians 2 vs 13 (KJV): And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses;
Our sins are forgiven, one thing we should know is this: even if you spent eternity outside of God or absence of God (which is Hell) it is not enough to pay for our sins.
The forgiveness of sins we have received is a major wealth of the redemptive work of God this money can never buy.
Colossians 1 vs 13 – 14 (KJV): Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son;
Verse 14: In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins:
Say with me out loud; “I have the forgiveness of sins” for this is a free gift from God the Father, halleluiah!
Romans 5 vs 1: Therefore, being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
Colossians 1 vs 20; And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, (I say), whether they be things in earth or things in heaven,
Ephesians 2 vs 14 – 16; For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us:
Verse 15; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace;
Verse 16: And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby:
From the verses above you can see that the work of Christ has already given us PEACE with God.
It is not what we pray for or wish to get someday, No, we have peace Now! With this peace, we have access to the FATHER 24\7 Uninterrupted.
Romans 4 vs 5 – 6: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Verse 6: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.
Righteousness is a gift from God to the believer, you do not work for it, all your good works cannot make you righteous, we are righteous through the man – Christ Jesus.
The moment you accept the sacrifice of Christ for you, God declares you justified and this justification cannot be lost, this is the beauty of redemption.
I John 1 vs 2: For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;
I John 2 vs 25: And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
I John 5 vs 11 and 13: And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this Life is in his Son.
Verse 13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Eternal life remains one of the vital real riches in Christ that we have NOW because of what Christ has accomplished for us.
Ephesians 1 vs 13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.
We have all received the gift of the Holy Spirit, he doesn’t come and go but he lives in us always.
The Holy Spirit now dwells in us permanently, unlike in Old Testament times when prophets experienced temporary visitations.
This constant indwelling is unique to us as new creations in Christ, representing the pinnacle of spiritual wealth.
The explanation above reveals that true abundance in Christ is found within the Gospel.
Revisiting Luke 16, we see that the steward proved untrustworthy with his master’s resources.
As believers, we’re entrusted with the Gospel—a complete representation of Christ’s accomplishments.
This message embodies the true riches of Christ, and we’re called to preserve it unaltered.
We conclude with Paul’s counsel to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:20: (paraphrasing) “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.”
My passion lies in reaching out to young adults in communities and schools, witnessing the transformative power of faith in their lives.
This blog extends my ministry, sharing insights, encouraging believers, and exploring Christ's teachings in daily life.
Welcome, Brother James.
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