THE RICHES OF OUR GOD
MATTHEW 6:19-21
Introduction:
Men have always occupied their minds and hearts with treasure. There are many treasures on this earth that have great value. There are also treasures here that men have esteemed unworthy of their time to investigate.
I speak of the richest treasure of them all, the riches of our God. Let’s consider some of those treasures and riches mentioned in the Word of God. Those that acquire these treasures get life everlasting.
I. THE RICHES OF HIS GOODNESS AND FORBEARANCE AND LONGSUFFERING
A. His goodness (KINDNESS) to us, Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
1. His kindness is great toward us, Psalm 117:2, “For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”
2. His kindness is a comfort to the believer, Psalm 119:76, “Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.”
B. His forbearance (TOLERANCE), Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
1. Divine patience has kept us out of hell.
2. His longsuffering with us His mercy, Psalm 86:13, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”
C. His longsuffering (PATIENCE) that leads us to repentance, 2 Timothy 2:25, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
II. THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY
A. On the vessels of mercy, Romans 9:23, “And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”
B. The glory of his inheritance in the saints, Ephesians 1:18, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
C. To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
III. THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
A. Redemption through his blood, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
1. Repentance, Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
2. The forgiveness of sins, Acts 13:38, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”
B. Knowledge of the mystery of Christ in you, Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
1. The hope of glory, Colossians 3:4, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
2. We rejoice in the Hope, Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
3. It is the hope of righteousness that we wait for, Galatians 5:5, “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
C. The riches of His glory supply all of our needs, Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
IV. THE REPROACH OF CHRIST IS GREATER RICHES THAN ALL THE TREASURES OF THIS WORLD
A. Moses thought so, Hebrews 11:26, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”
B. Jeremiah knew of Greater Riches, Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
C. Paul knew of Greater Riches, 2 Corinthians 6:10, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
1. He knew the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”
2. Paul knew the Greater Riches of the inheritance of God’s people, Ephesians 1:18, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
CONCLUSION
The riches of our God are beyond that which we think or even imagine. We are rich through Jesus Christ and the salvation that we have in Him. We are rich is His many blessings here on earth as well as the promises of His Second Coming and of our future state in the presence of God the Father.