What does it mean to be rich toward God?
Luke 12:21
ESV - 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
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Asked November 19 2016
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Sonny Oaman
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
Jesus said the words cited in the question in connection with rebuking a man who had wanted Jesus to command the man's brother (who was apparently the primary heir of the family estate) to share the inheritance that he had received. Jesus then warned of the spiritual hazards that wealth can create, and told the parable of the rich fool to illustrate that the value of one's life from God's perspective is not measured by the material wealth and possessions that a person accumulates. Instead, being rich toward God means remembering that God is the ultimate source of the time, abilities, and financial or material means that have been placed at our disposal in this life, and using those gifts not purely for our own ease or pleasure (as the fool in the parable planned to do), but also to express our thanks to God for His grace and generosity toward us by promoting the sharing of the gospel with fellow human beings who are not yet followers of Jesus, and benefiting those who have not been as materially blessed as we have. Jesus expressed the same thought in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-21) when He told His followers not to lay up treasure for themselves on earth, where those assets could deteriorate or be destroyed or stolen (and would have to be left behind at death in any event), but to lay up treasure in heaven by using their resources to perform acts of love and assistance to others, resulting in rewards from God that will be eternal in nature, and that cannot be lost.
Greg T
Supporter
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. (1 Cor. 2:12) Freely given doesnt mean freely received. You have to receive it. You have to know where you came from, where you are going back to, and that ALL that the father has is yours. That is being rich towards God. (John 13:3)
Andy Mangus
Supporter
A very simple and child like, 'easy to understand' style of an answer I submit: God tells us in HIs Holy WORD, that he wants us to "come unto Me as like a child" --with pure Faith, for a child has purity of trust, purity of belief and no doubts or reason to mistrust! Being 'rich toward God' is the internal complete and pure acceptance by FAITH that God is God, The Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. The level of any child of God's "richness toward God" is only measured by their individual level of pure Faith... --and--...pure Trust IN Him! Purity of belief;..."richness" is in essence the 'inherent Value' in The Kingdom of God! True richness toward God is the prized possession and "stand strong against any adversity" attitude any child of God SHOULD have each and every day since the day of your individual Salvation! God's WORD tells us to "store up our treasures in Heaven, not in Earthly things" or Earthly pursuits, but to be rich IN Him by seeking His desires and His plans/paths that He has in store for us in our daily lives! "Seek ye the Lord and His righteousness" and He will direct your paths!(Luke 11:9) (Matthew 6:33) A paramount understanding of the ultimate price ever paid for anything in all of creation is to know that Jesus paid that price! For you and for me! We, as each a child of God and saved "for unto that day of redemption" are forever "rich" in His everlasting divine salvation 'gift' that He gave us without any cost to us. He paid that ultimate price at that cruel, wicked cross at Calvary a little over 2000 years ago. The Gospel song that alludes to this: "All to Jesus..my blessed Savior...all to Him I owe..." Every Child of God, every brother and/or sister IN Christ "owes" Jesus Christ our debt of gratitude, thankfulness, adoration and, most of all, our love and trust IN and for Him! We exemplify this love by loving others "as He first loved us". This debt of His ULTIMATE PRICE that He paid at Calvary is one that we can not ever repay! "Thank God that He provided a Savior! And, His name is Jesus Christ!" ~~~Andy~~~
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