‘Last Generation’
Rom 12:7-8 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering;
he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with
liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.
1Tim 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present
age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God,
who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in
good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good
foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
The rich brethren must:
1. Not be haughty – as long as he realizes that he is
just a steward and his riches are from God to give to His poor, needy but
faithful servants.
2. Not to trust uncertain riches but in the living God –
if he is wise he will sell all and give alms and follow (or trusting) Him.
Mark 10:21 Then
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your
way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
3. Rich in good works so that all those around him
will see Jesus in him, and become Christians or disciples of our Lord.
Mat 5:16 “Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven.”
4. Ready to give to the poor, needy, missions,
charitable homes liberally.
1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees
his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God
abide in him?
5. Willing to share his wealth, blessings, joy and
comfort with poor fellow brethren.
Mat 24:45-46 “Who
then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his
household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his
master, when he comes, will find so doing.
6. Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the
time to come.
Luke 18:22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to
him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Only by his
obedience to the word of God will the rich brethren be able to store up for
himself treasures in heaven, and a strong foundation with the baptism of the
Spirit of truth that will help him to overcome the sins, deceptions and
temptations of this world.
Heb 11:24-26 By
faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to
enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
A merciful brethren looks for reasons to give to the poor
but the wicked looks for excuses to be merciless.
Beware of hoarding in the last days
James 5:1-6 Come now, [you] rich, weep and howl for your
miseries that are coming upon you! Your
riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are
corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your
flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed,
the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud,
cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of
Sabbath.
