MEN OF GOD WITH WEALTH

Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.  –Genesis 13:2

The man grew exceedingly prosperous. –Genesis 30:43

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. –Job 42:10

WARNINGS AGAINST SNOBBERY, FINANCIAL PRIDE, AND BACKSLIDING

Let not a rich man boast of his riches. –Jeremiah 9:23

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.   –Ecclesiastes 5:10

The rich answer harshly.   –Proverbs 18:23

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God by failing to keep His commandments, His ordinances, and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, and you build good houses and live in them, and when your herds and your flocks increase, and your silver and gold increase, and everything that you have increases, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. –Deuteronomy 8:11-14

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores…The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side…Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.’” –Luke 16:19-23, 25

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  –1 Timothy 6:9-10

Tomorrow, when the devil seizes thy soul, will he not say, “What do all thy riches profit thee?” Will they purchase a pillow for thy head, in the lake of fire burning with brimstone? Or will they procure thee a cup of “water to cool thy tongue,” while thou art tormented in that flame?” O follow the wise direction here given; that God may not say unto thee, “Thou fool!”…By whatsoever means thy riches increase, whether with or without labour; whether by trade, legacies, or any other way; unless thy charities increase in the same proportion; unless thou givest a full tenth of thy substance, of thy fixed and occasional income; thou dost undoubtedly set thy heart upon thy gold, and it will “eat thy flesh as fire!” –John Wesley, “On the Danger of Increasing Riches” 1.6-7

EXAMPLES OF CHARITIES TO TARGET

1. Beggars, Homeless People, Widows, and Orphans.

2. Church: Tithes and Other Donations.

3. Parachurch Ministries: Especially Ones That Help the Poor and Preach the Gospel.

4. Evangelists: like Ray Comfort, Andrew Strom, some in Church of God (Cleveland, TN).

5. St. Vincent de Paul Society and Catholic Charities USA.