the riches of poverty and the poverty of riches. middle class 1 st century economics poor rich

The Riches of Povertyand the Poverty of

Riches

Middle Class

1st Century Economics

Poor Rich

Poor

1st Century Economics

Rich

Poorlived hand-to-mouth

Richalmost all got rich by immoral

gain

Basic assumptionwealth a sign of Divine blessingpoverty a sign of Divine curse

1st Century Economics

The Poverty of Riches

① will not last (1:10-11)

The Poverty of Riches

Proverbs 23:5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

① will not last (1:10-11)

The Poverty of Riches

Psalm 49:16–17 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.

① will not last (1:10-11)

② does not impress God (2:2-4)

③ if gained immorally, brings judgment

explicitly illegal means (5:4)

legal but selfish means

The Poverty of Riches

The Poverty of Riches

Isaiah 5:8 Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land.

① will not last (1:10-11)

② does not impress God (2:2-4)

③ if gained immorally, brings judgment

④ if hoarded, brings judgment (2:13-16, 5:5)

The Poverty of Riches

The Poverty of Riches

“The Bible does not condemn wealth as such; but there is no book which more strenuously insists on wealth’s responsibility and on the perils which surround those who are abundantly blessed with the world’s goods.”

William Barclay

The Riches of Poverty

① a catalyst for faith (2:5)

The Riches of Poverty

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble...

① a catalyst for faith (2:5)

The Riches of Poverty

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ...but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong...

① a catalyst for faith (2:5)

The Riches of Poverty

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ...and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

① a catalyst for faith (2:5)

The Riches of Poverty

Luke 18:24–25 ...“How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

① a catalyst for faith (2:5)

② an honor in God’s family (1:9)

③ an opportunity for eternal reward (1:12)

The Riches of Poverty

How do we apply this?

① Don’t lust for what you don’t have

Application

Proverbs 30:8–9 ...Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.

② Don’t hoard what you do have

Application

1 Timothy 6:17-19Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy...

② Don’t hoard what you do have

Application

1 Timothy 6:17-19...Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

③ Fix your eyes on the One who became poor for us

Application

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

The Riches of Povertyand the Poverty of

Riches