127 / 304
The Bottom Line
counsel of God, we should become articulate on both
matters of getting and giving.
Can the wealthy go to heaven? The Scriptures
affirm it to be so, albeit with difficulty. Can we make
our peace with our Creator on His terms and then live
as to be neither ashamed of yesterday nor fearful of
tomorrow? Yes. However, don't look for your net
worth in the Book of Life, as the financial rating firm of
Dun and Bradstreet measures it. The accounting is
different in the hereafter.
The Scriptures don't call us to be successful, as
much as they call us to be faithful. In the meantime,
be the laborer who is worthy of his hire. Be worth
your sodium chloride. Never forget that integrity is in
short supply and in very great demand.
It
is a seller's
market! Live long and prosper. Never break with
God, and go to Heaven
f~revermore.
That's King
Solomon's advice. And he was a very wise man,
wasn't he?
Finally, consider the apostle Paul's advice to the
prosperous (I Timothy 6:17-19):
As for the rich in this world, charge them not to
be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain
rfches but on God who richly furnishes you with
everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be
rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus
laying up for themselves a good foundation for
the future, so that they may take hold of the life
which is life indeed.
·
And, in the end, all the people of the congregation
said,
''Amen."
109