We see definitions in the Scriptures of what rich is and what poor is.  There are those that are among us that will have superabundance.  It would be the definition that we would put, as Americans, on somebody who’s rich.  Most of us in this room, in fact, probably all of us, don’t qualify to be rich by the world’s standards.  Some are close, but there’s a spirit behind that power of mammon.  What I want to encourage us in is twofold.  One is, don’t be afraid of God making you rich.  We’ve got some people that are almost afraid of it.  I think we need to be sober because it’s a difficult thing for a rich man to enter into heaven.  That ought to sober us up; amen?  We know that the Scripture has admonished those of us that are rich how to conduct ourselves within the community of believers.  What I want to deal with is letting God, by His own sovereign purposes, bless us as it pleases Him and understand the reason He is blessing us.  When I use the term, “rich,” don’t think “American rich,” think biblically.  Then we’ll see as we go on in the study, the different aspects of the abundance that each of us might possess.

Genesis 13:2 talks about the great patriarch, Abraham and says, “and Abram was very rich.”  So, we see riches vary in the eyes of God and His blessings that are upon us.  We saw that the abundance of Abraham necessitated the dividing of him and Lot.  He was so wealthy that the land couldn’t even handle the cattle that they had, so they couldn’t remain together.  Now Abraham is the father of faith; amen?  I love this about Abraham, when he went out knowing the blessings of the Lord.  We know how he brought back Lot and those that had been taken captive.  Those that were blessed by this wanted to pay Abraham for the services that he had rendered, the use of all of his men to bring those back that were taken into captivity.  Abraham made a statement that needs to become very real in each and every one of our hearts.  He turned down all of this financial offering for services rendered and said, “I don’t need your money.  It will not be said that any man made Abraham rich.”  We see right here that we have to understand.  As God wants to prosper us, it’s for His glory not just our gain; amen?  It’s for God’s glory, not solely for our gain.  Now God wants to bless us.  Deuteronomy 28 makes it very clear, doesn’t it?  Deuteronomy 28 talks about all of those blessings that come from God.  You’ll be blessed in the field and you’ll be blessed in the fruit of your womb.  All of these things are benefits for those who are obedient, those who are keeping His commandments.  Who are walking in right fellowship with Him.  Who are pure in heart.  Abraham was that kind of man.  Abraham was jealous for the glory of God.  When God begins to prosper you, let people know why you’re prospering.  Not because you’re smarter than everybody else, not because your more disciplined than everybody else.  Not because of your great character, it’s because God has blessed you; amen?

In Deuteronomy, Chapter 8 we find these very familiar words.  He’s letting them know He’s going to be taking them into the promised land, a land that flows with milk and honey.  He informs them, “Look, I’m going to bless you.  You’re going to live in houses you didn’t build and drink from wells you didn’t dig.  I want you to be careful of this one thing,” verse 11, “Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping of his commandments…  Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwell therein; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and thy silver and gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied.”  That’s some extreme blessing of God being offered up and promised to these who have been obedient.