Thou Shalt Not Be Haughty

178 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 6:17 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. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Let's establish a couple of things here. First of all, we are the rich! I am not writing this in some third world country. We live in a very affluent society. Secondly the rich (you and I) are commanded to do some things here. We are commanded to not be haughty. Just because you and I have been blessed with wealth does not mean that we should think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Never forget, this wealth can be taken away at any moment. Pr 23:5 says, “Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” Never think for a moment that because you have money, goods, and abundant material things that you are somehow better than anyone else. This is an ancient trap! And you know what? We don't help the situation when we fawn over the well off in church! Jas 2:1-4 says, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” With all of your fawning, have not you helped breed an attitude of haughtiness in the rich man? Have you not fostered an attitude of inferiority in the poor? Remember this from the Book of Proverbs, it will go a long way in fostering humility: Pr 22:2, “The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all.” There is no room for haughtiness in that statement.....only thankfulness, and that's the way it should be.