having promise of the life that now is,
and of that which is to come!"
1 Timothy 4:8
Yes, enduring wealth and
righteousness!" Proverbs 8:18
Riches and honor fascinate worldly men--
they will therefore risk anything and
everything in the pursuit of them.
Tell a poor man how he may get
a fortune, or a rich man how
he may rise to honor--
and they are all attention, and
are prepared to do your bidding.
To meet this disposition in man,
Wisdom presents itself as the source
of riches and honor, saying,
enduring wealth and righteousness!"
Wisdom represents CHRIST.
To possess CHRIST, is to possess
unsearchable riches! (Ephesians 3:8)
THE WEALTH OF GODLINESS.
"Riches are with ME."
That is, all things necessary for life
and godliness. The godly man is a truly
wealthy man. A little of earth, with GOD'S
blessing, will go a long way with him.
But the riches of godliness,
are principally riches of grace--
answering to that in nature, which
procures food, clothing, medicine,
residence, pleasure, and knowledge:
A godly man has bread to eat,
which the world knows nothing of--
even the bread of life, which came
down from Heaven.
He is clothed with the best robe,
even the SAVIOR'S righteousness;
and wears the garments of salvation
every day.
For his use, are the leaves
of the tree of life, which heal
the soul; and the famous balm
of Gilead, which restores spiritual
health, and preserves it.
To him, the LORD is a strong refuge,
to which he may continually resort.
Of the divine rivers of pleasure
he may drink.
He has an unction from the HOLY ONE,
and knows all things necessary
for him to know.
The riches of grace, prepare for the riches of glory . . .
a glorious heavenly mansion,
a crown of righteousness, and
an unfading and incorruptible inheritance!
Godliness is true wealth. It puts
a man in possession of all that
he will need in life and in death--
and all that he can enjoy
throughout eternity!
The godly man is always rich, and
though he may appear to be poor--
as there is much laid up for
him in Heaven!
These are desirable riches,
they cannot be lost!
THE DIGNITY OF GODLINESS.
"Honor is with ME."
Not the honor of the world,
which is like a fading flower--
but "the honor which comes
from GOD alone."
JESUS, the King of Heaven,
is the source and giver of all spiritual
honor. All HIS people are raised to dignity.
What honor can exceed this, to be . . .
the bride of the only begotten SON of GOD;
the children of the Most High GOD,
the brethren of the LORD of life and glory,
the joint heirs with JESUS,
who is HEIR of all things,
the forever friends of GOD, and
made eternal kings and priests!
O the dignity conferred on
every believer in JESUS--
the poorest, the weakest,
the most despised of them!
A godly man is always honorable.
He may be despised now, his sun may
be obscured by some cloud at present--
but it will soon burst forth
in splendor and glory!
The world knows him not--
but then it knew not JESUS. He is
like JESUS in his humiliation now--
but he will be like JESUS
in his glorification before long.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"O the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of GOD!
how unsearchable are HIS judgments,
and HIS ways past finding out!
For who hath known the mind of the LORD?
or who hath been HIS counsellor?
Or who hath first given to HIM, and
it shall be recompensed unto HIM again?
For of HIM, and through HIM, and to HIM,
are all things: to WHOM be glory for ever. Amen."
(Romans 11:33 - 36)
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