Very Rich

 Bible Reading: Genesis 13:1-13

Key Verse: Verse 2 - “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.”

Key Words: And Abram was very rich

Abram wasn’t just rich; he was very rich...with cattle, silver, and gold. 

The word rich is an interesting word. It means “weighty.” It comes from the word virtue. It carries the idea of both blessing and burden. When one uses their riches for God, that’s a blessing; but when one uses their riches for self and a worldly life, that becomes a burden. I refer you to the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 who was rich but his riches were not a blessing – they were a burden. He ended up slopping hogs!! 

The problem with riches without God is that they allow you to live without learning how to live. 

In 1928 a group of the world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. The following were present: The president of the largest utility company, the greatest wheat speculator, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, a member of the President’s Cabinet, the greatest “bear” in Wall Street, the president of the Bank of International Settlements, the head of the world’s greatest monopoly. Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the U.S. Treasury, and for years, newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples. Twenty-five years later, this is what had happened to these men: 

The president of the largest independent steel company, Charles Schwab, lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life and died broke. 

The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died abroad, insolvent. 

The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served a term in Sing Sing Prison. 

The member of the President’s Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. 

The greatest “bear” in Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed suicide. 

The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser, committed suicide. 

The head of the world’s greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed suicide. 

All of these men had learned how to make money, but not one of them had learned how to live. 

If one doesn’t know how to live, then all the riches in this world come to naught!!

 

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:  

✞ Without God, riches are a burden.