Let Us Set Our Hope Not on Riches, but on Jesus

 

What is hope? Hope means desiring something, or waiting for the thing one desires. Therefore, true hope is not placed in what is presently seen.

 

Romans 8:24-25 “24 For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? 25 But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

 

Therefore, today we must not set our hope on riches, that is, money or the valuable things of this world. Rather, although we cannot see Him with our eyes now, we must set our hope only on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

 

Riches are certainly necessary as we live in this world. However, because they do not remain with us forever, we must always live with the understanding that, in the end, they are ultimately vanity.

 

Proverbs 23:4-5 “4 Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.”

 

Proverbs 27:24 “For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure unto all generations?”

 

As these words say, riches may be with us for a time, but they can fly away at any moment, because they do not remain forever. Therefore, setting our hope on riches is not a wise thing to do. On the other hand, our Lord Jesus is the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever.”

 

And this Jesus has the authority to give us riches and to give us the power to enjoy them.

 

Ecclesiastes 5:19 “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.”

 

The reason this word says “the gift of God” is that it teaches us that giving riches and wealth to a person, and also giving him the power to enjoy them, all belong to the authority of God.

 

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 “17 and lest thou say in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth...”

 

Therefore, even if one has received riches, wealth, and honor from God, if he has not also received the power to enjoy them, all is vanity.

 

Ecclesiastes 6:2 “A man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.”

 

Therefore, we must fear God alone and set our hope only on Jesus.

 

Psalm 104:28-29 “28 Thou givest unto them, they gather; Thou openest thy hand, they are satisfied with good. 29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.”

 

Also, riches are of no benefit to us at all in the day of God’s judgment.

 

Ezekiel 7:19 “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it hath been the stumblingblock of their iniquity.”

 

Proverbs 11:4 “Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.”

 

As these words say, riches are useless in the day of God’s wrath, but righteousness, that is, keeping the word of God, will deliver from death. Therefore, the man of God must flee the desire for riches and the love of money, fight the good fight of faith against these things, and strive to set his hope only on Jesus.

 

1 Timothy 6:9-12 “9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.”

 

Psalm 39:6-7 “6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.”

 

As this passage says, our hope, that is, our waiting and expectation, is only in our Lord Jesus. And there is a blessing from God for those who set their hope on Him in this way.

 

Psalm 146:5 “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God.”

 

Now Jesus Christ is our hope of glory.

 

Colossians 1:27 “To whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

 

Therefore, when we set our hope not on riches but on Jesus Christ, the God of hope will fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Truly, those who set their hope on Jesus have “the hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2)!

 

Romans 15:12-13 “12 And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Amen.