RICHES

Riches are measured by money or the amount of property a person owns, whether land or buildings -- Isaiah 5:8-10: livestock (1 Samuel 25:2-3): or slaves (1 Samuel 8:11-18). Great riches brought great influence and power, as the Hebrew word for wealth suggests. The Bible seems to speak with two different voices on the subject of riches. It sometimes describes material wealth as a sign of YHVH’s blessing and approval (Genesis 24:35) and at other times is identifies the rich with the wicked (Psalms 37:7 and Psalms 37:16). The Bible tells us that YHVH made all things for people to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). That is why being rich is a matter for thanksgiving, not embarrassment. Every possession that a person can possibly own comes from YHVH (Psalms 24:1), so people should remember that all wealth is a blessing from YHVH. It was in this spirit that David could pray to YHVH: “Riches and honour come of Thee” (1 Chronicles 29:12). Even when wealth is earned by hard work, the Bible reminds its readers that both their talents and their resources are given to them by YHVH. Yeshua illustrates this important lesson in the parables of the 10 talents -- Matthew 25:14-30; and the 10 minas (Luke 19:11-26). The Bible never says that having possessions and becoming wealthy are completely wrong. There would be no point in the Ten Commandments’ ban on stealing and envy if it was wrong for YHVH’s people to own anything at all. In addition, Yeshua never taught that it was sinful to be rich. However, Yeshua warned that riches could keep a person out of the Kingdom of YHVH when He said, “How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of YHVH!” (Mark 10:23). Wealth, he taught, can destroy peace (Mark 6:24-34), it can make people forget the needs of others (Luke 16:19-31), it can come between individuals (Mark 10:17-27), and even bring YHVH’s judgment (Luke 12:16-21). Yeshua told his disciples not to accumulate personal wealth (Matthew 6:19), and he praised people who gave up their possessions (Matthew 19:29). Yeshua’ teachings against wealth are not directed against riches in themselves. What Yeshua condemns is the wrong attitudes many people have toward acquiring wealth, and the wrong ways in which they use money. Longing for riches, not having them, ruins a person’s spiritual life (Matthew 13:22). The desire to have more wealth doomed the unforgiving servant in Yeshua’ parable (Matthew 18:23-35). Also, the rich man’s selfishness, not his wealth, sealed his fate (Luke 16:19-26). Paul captured the main theme in these parables when he said, “The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil” -- 1 Timothy 6:10. The greatest danger of all arises when riches gain the mastery in a person’s life. The whole Bible warns against this attitude to material things (Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Luke 14:15-24). Satan tempted Yeshua to put material wealth and power in YHVH’s place (Matthew 4:8-9), and Yeshua gave a very clear warning against letting money be a person’s master (Matthew 6:24). In this way, Yeshua instructs the rich young ruler to sell everything (Mark 10:17-22). Here was a wealthy man who had allowed his possessions to possess him. Yeshua’ goal was to make him recognize his bondage so he could escape from his self-made prison. The fact that he turned away from Yeshua demonstrates the powerful pull money has on many people. These blunt warnings about money are the most striking aspect of Yeshua’ teaching about wealth. However, along with his teaching of wrong attitudes, Yeshua was careful to sketch in the outline of right attitudes. People who recognize that they are YHVH’s trustees of their possessions will find many valuable outlets for their riches in the service of YHVH (Luke 12:42-44). Instead of making them tight-fisted, their riches should allow them to express love in many practical ways (2 Corinthians 8:2). Also, instead of having their inward peace ruined by anxious greed, they would find the secret of peace in an increasing sense of dependence on YHVH (Luke 12:29-31 and 1 Timothy 6:17). According to the Bible, then, the morality of riches depends entirely on a person’s attitudes. This is very clear in the frequent comparisons the Bible makes between material and spiritual wealth. People who make material riches their goal in life have wrong values. However wealthy they may appear, they are poverty-stricken in YHVH’s sight (Matthew 16:26 and Revelation 3:17). In YHVH’s view, the truly rich are those whose main aim in life is to serve Him as King (Matthew 13:44-46). Their wealth lies in being faithful and doing good works (1 Timothy 6:18 and James 2:5). YHVH provides a heavenly bank balance that no one can steal and nothing can erode: “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be” (Matthew 6:21).

CHARACTER

OUR MOSHIACH IS THE MODEL FOR PERFECT CHARACTER.

“You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect”. -- Matthew 5:48 -- How can we be perfect?

(1) In character --- In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like our Moshiach as possible.
(2) In holiness --- Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to YHVH’s desires, rather than our own, and carry His love and mercy into the world.
(3) In maturity --- We can’t achieve a faith-based character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. Just as we expect different behaviour from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, so YHVH expects different behaviour from us, depending on our stage of spiritual development.
(4) In love --- We can seek to love others as completely as YHVH loves us. We can be “perfect” if our behaviour is appropriate for our maturity level-perfect, yet with much room to grow. Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like our Moshiach. Our Moshiach calls all of His disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like Him. Those who strive to become perfect will one day be perfect, even as our Moshiach is perfect (1 John 3:2-3).

A DESIRABLE CHARACTER IS MOLDED BY YHVH’S STANDARDS, NOT JUST HUMAN ONES.

“But Adonai said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. Adonai doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but Adonai looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.’” (1 Samuel 16:7) Saul was tall and handsome; he was an impressive-looking man. Samuel may have been trying to find someone who looked like Saul to be Israel’s next king, but YHVH warned him against judging by appearance alone. When people judge by outward appearance, they may overlook quality individuals who lack the particular physical qualities society currently admires. Appearance doesn’t reveal what people are really like or their true value. Fortunately, YHVH judges by faith and character, not appearances. And because only YHVH can see on the inside, only He can accurately judge people. Most people spend hours each week maintaining their outward appearance; they should do even more to develop their inner character. While everyone can see your face, only you and YHVH know what your heart really looks like. What steps are you taking to improve your heart’s attitude?

CHARACTER IS DEVELOPED THROUGH CHALLENGES.

“Later on, YHVH tested Abraham’s faith and obedience. ‘Abraham!’ YHVH called. ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Here I am.’” (Genesis 22:1) YHVH tested Abraham, not to trip him and watch him fall, but to deepen his capacity to obey YHVH and thus develop his character. Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, YHVH refines us through difficult circumstances. When we are tested, we can complain, or we can try to see how YHVH is stretching us to develop our character.

CHARACTER IS DEVELOPED THROUGH SUFFERING.

“We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us -- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4) For first-century believers, suffering was the rule rather than the exception. Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know YHVH is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance-which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in YHVH, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank YHVH for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in His strength (see also James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7).

CHARACTER IS DEVELOPED BY TEMPTATION.

“Immediately Ruach HaKodesh compelled Yeshua to go into the wilderness. He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him”. (Mark 1:12-13) Yeshua left the crowds and went into the desert where he was tempted by Satan. Temptation is bad for us only when we give in. We should not hate or resent times of inner testing, because through them YHVH can strengthen our character and teach us valuable lessons. When you face Satan and must deal with his temptations and the turmoil he brings, remember Yeshua. He used YHVH’s Word against Satan and won. You can do the same.

CHOICES

HOW CAN WE LEARN TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES?

WE CAN MAKE THE SAME KINDS OF CHOICES YESHUA MADE.

“I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does… And the Father leaves all judgment to his Son, so that everyone will honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. But if you refuse to honour the Son, then you are certainly not honouring the Father who sent him”. (John 5:19, 22-23) Because of His unity with YHVH, Yeshua lived as YHVH wanted Him to live. Because of our identification with Yeshua, we must honour Him and live as He wants us to live. The questions “What would Yeshua do?” and “What would Yeshua have me do?” may help us make the right choices.

WE CAN BE AWARE THAT ATTRACTIVE CHOICES SOMETIMES LEAD TO SIN.

“My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!” -- Proverbs 1:10. Sin is enticing because it offers a quick route to prosperity and makes us feel like one of the crowd. But when we go along with others and refuse to listen to the truth, our own appetite becomes our master, and we’ll do anything to satisfy it. Sin, even when attractive, is deadly. We must learn to make choices not on the basis of flashy appeal or short-term pleasure, but in view of the long-range effects. Sometimes this means steering clear of people who want to draw us into activities that we know are wrong. We can’t be friendly with sin and expect our life to remain unaffected.

WE CAN REMEMBER THAT GOOD CHOICES HAVE POSITIVE LONG-TERM RESULTS.

“Godliness helps people all through life, while the evil is destroyed by their wickedness.” (Proverbs 13:6) Living right is like posting a guard for your life. Every choice for good sets into motion other opportunities for good. Evil choices follow the same pattern, but in the opposite direction. Each decision you make to obey YHVH’s Word will bring a greater sense of order to your life, while each decision to disobey will bring confusion and destruction. The right choices you make reflect your integrity. Obedience brings the greatest safety and security.

WE CAN REMEMBER THAT RIGHT CHOICES ARE SOMETIMES DIFFICULT.

“As Yeshua was going down the road, He saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. ‘Come, be My disciple,’ Yeshua said to him. So, Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9) When Yeshua called Matthew to be one of His disciples, Matthew got up and followed, leaving a lucrative career. When YHVH calls you to follow or obey Him, do you do it with as much abandon as Matthew? Sometimes the decision to follow the Moshiach requires difficult or painful choices. Like Matthew, we must decide to leave behind those things that would keep us from following the Moshiach.