SURVIVING THE GOOD TIMES
INTRODUCTION:
1. Spiritual survival is that for which we all are striving.
2. Staying alive and active, spiritually speaking, until the Lord comes back
for us
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as
wise,
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise,
but
understand what the will of the Lord is."
3. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward
man is
perishing our inward man is being renewed day by day.
4. All of us have survived hard times and tragedies in our lives.
5. Whether it be illness, family problems, financial, or death in the family.
6. The Bible is a great source of comfort during these times
a) Job
b) Romans 8:35-39
c) Revelation 21:4 "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes there shall be
no more death, nor sorrow nor crying There shall be no more pain, for former
things have passed away."
7. But in this lesson we want to discuss, surviving the good times.
8. Our country is unique in that one can start with nothing and prosper.
9. Even some uneducated and untrained find their nitch in life and prosper.
10. The religious world in general has long been confused about prosperity.
11. Some require that their leaders take a so-called "vow of poverty".
12. Some have used their position in the religious world to prosper.
13. Some have even gone so far as to extort money from the congregation in
exchange for a sure passage into Heaven when they die.
14. God allows Christians to prosper but often times when we do prosper
materially we turn our backs on the very God who made it possible for us to
prosper in the first place.
15. Let us discuss spiritually surviving the good times.
I. UNIQUE PROBLEMS POSED BY GOOD TIMES:
A. The problem of self-exaltation:
1) Daniel 4:28-33 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end
of the
twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30
The king
spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a
royal dwelling by
my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" 31 While the word
was still in
the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to
you it is
spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive
you from
men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They
shall make you
eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you
know that the
Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He
chooses."
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar;
he was
driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew
of heaven
till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like
birds' claws.
2) Daniel 5:20 "But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was
hardened in
pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory
from him.
21 "Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like
the beasts,
and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass
like oxen, and
his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most
High God rules
in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
B. It's easy to forget that all we are and all that we have is of God:
1) Job 15:24-29 The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, and the
number of
years is hidden from the oppressor. Dreadful sounds are in his ears;
in
prosperity the destroyer comes upon him. He does not believe that he
will
return from darkness, and he watches for the sword. He wanders about
for
bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is ready
at his hand.
Trouble and anguish make him afraid; they overpower him, like a king
ready for
battle. For he stretches out his hand against God, and acts defiantly
against the
Almighty, Running stubbornly against Him with his strong, embossed
shield.
"Though he has covered his face with his fatness, and made his waist
heavy with
fat, He dwells in desolate cities, in houses which no one inhabits,
which are
destined to become ruins. He will not be rich, nor will his wealth
continue, nor
will his possessions over-spread the earth.
C. It is easy to become hardened to the need of others: "Imade it on my own
etc"
Amos 6:1-6 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount
Samaria,
notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel
comes! Go over
to Calneh and see; and from there go to Hamath the great; then go
down to Gath
of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their
territory greater
than your territory? Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who
cause the
seat of violence to come near; Who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out
on your
couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the
stall; Who
sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for
yourselves musical
instruments like David; Who drink wine from bowls, and anoint
yourselves with
the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
Therefore
they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and those who
recline at
banquets shall be removed.
C. It is easy to develop a false sense of security:
Luke 12:16-21 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a
certain
rich man yielded plentifully. "And he thought within himself, saying,
'What shall I
do, since I have no room to store my crops?' "So he said, 'I will do
this: I will
pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my
crops and my
goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up
for many
years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' "But God said to
him, 'Fool!
This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those
things be which
you have provided?' "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is
not rich
toward God."
D. It is easy to become complacent:
1) Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria
had
peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of
the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
2) Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their
fathers to
the false prophets.
E. It is easy to lose sight of how much better Heaven will be than life on earth
(Luke 16:1ff). May even cause one to want to stay here and not go!
II. THINGS TO BE DESIRED MORE THAN WEALTH AND PROSPERITY:
A. A good name: Proverbs 22:1
B. Wisdom for living: Proverbs 3:13,18; 4:7; 8:11; 19:8.
C. Righteousness
1) Revelation 2:9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you
are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and
are not,
but are a synagogue of Satan.
2) 2 Corinthians 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet
making many
rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
D. A prudent wife: Proverbs 19:14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from
fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
E. Honor and glory: from God
1) Romans 2:5-10 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent
heart
you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and
revelation of the
righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to
his
deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing
good seek for
glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and
do not obey
the truth, but obey unrighteousness-- indignation and wrath,
tribulation and
anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also
of the Greek;
but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the
Jew first
and also to the Greek.
2) 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became
for us
wisdom from God-- and righteousness and sanctification and
redemption--
that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
F. Eternal life: Luke 16:19-31 The rich man would have gladly traded places with
Lazarus.
III. GOD BLESSES US SO THAT WE MAY SHARE OTHERS:
A. We are not to selfishly hold wealth: 1 Tim 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.
B. Do not glory in material things: Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD:
"Let not the
wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might,
nor let the
rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this,
that he
understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising
loving-kindness,
judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says
the LORD.
C. Work in spreading the gospel: 3 John 5-6 Beloved, you do faithfully
whatever you
do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your
love before
the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner
worthy of God,
you will do well,
D. Give and it shall be given to you: Luke 6:38
E. God multiplies the good we do: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 Now may He who
supplies
seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you
have sown
and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in
everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to
God.
F. Jesus is our greatest example: Proverbs 13:7 There is one who makes
himself rich,
yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
IV. MATERIAL BLESSINGS ARE NOT SINFUL IN AND OF THEMSELVES:
A. Abraham was very rich and was called the Friend of God (Genesis 13:2;James
2:23)
B. Job was wealthy twice Job 1:1-3:3
C. Joseph had both wealth and power.
D. Solomon had wisdom and riches.
E. Joseph of Arimathea was rich,
F. There is a danger for those who have set being rich as their life's
ambition:
1 Timothy 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and
a snare, and
into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and
perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some
have strayed
from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with
many
sorrows.
V. WE CAN BECOME SLACK OR WEARY IN DOING GOD'S WILL WHILE
PURSUING EARTHLY WEALTH:
A. God is no respector of persons Matthew 25:14-30 He expects us all to use
what
we have been given.
B. One who has a slack hand will come to poverty Proverbs 10:4
C. We are told to work in order to have something to give to those in need
Eph. 4:28
D. Colossians 3:23-25 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and
not to
men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance;
for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for
what he
has done, and there is no partiality.
E. Eccl 5:12-15 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little
or much;
but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. There is a
severe evil
which I have seen under the sun: riches kept for their owner to his
hurt. But
those riches perish through misfortune; when he begets a son, there is
nothing in
his hand. As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to
go as he
came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away
in his
hand.
G. Sin involving prosperity and material things is often committed in the heart
motive
or attitude and difficult for us to determine, but God knows. Numbers
32:23 "But if
you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and
be sure
your sin will find you out.
CONCLUSION:
1. We often hear about surviving the hard times, but it can just as difficult
to survive the
good times with your soul intact.
2. A good place to start is by becoming a child of God.