Thought for the Day

Verse 2 - The riches that belong to the wicked will not deliver them from death. At some point, every man comes to the end of himself, and realizes that money cannot buy the things that really matter. Riches follow no one to the grave, and there is only one way to escape the punishment of hell waiting on the other side-it is through Jesus Christ. He took our sins and punishment upon Himself on the cross. If we repent and accept Him as Savior, we will not face hell, but rather live with Him in heaven. God's original plan for man did not include death or hell. Hell was created for Satan and his evil angels (Matthew 25:41). Men are going there because they are deceived into following Satan's ways.

No man can attain the righteousness which delivers one from hell outside of receiving the righteousness of Christ. This is a sin-cursed world. We are all born into sin. We do not have to remain in sin, however. If we ask God to help us forsake our sins, He will. The only redemption for any of us is in Christ. We must ask Jesus into our hearts and allow Him to live His life through us; then we will have His righteousness and can live an overcoming life. When we accept Jesus as our Lord, death holds no fear for us, because He conquered death and hell by rising from the dead. As His children, we have been given victory over the devil and no longer have to live in fear, sickness, poverty, or any other curse.

Verse 3 - As God's righteous people, our souls need never be famished. If we come with a humble heart and ask Him to meet our needs, He promises to provide. He gives strength to the weary; courage to the fearful; healing to the sick; peace to the angry; comfort to the wounded; guidance to the troubled and the list goes on and on. The world knows nothing about the wondrous things God freely gives His children–things no amount of money can buy!

Many people lose their riches because they are not serving God, who "casts away the substance" of the wicked. Sometimes, through loss, people will turn to God. The Lord does not desire us to come to Him this way, but rather, simply to surrender to His will. When we do, worldly riches will mean nothing to us compared to the riches that we will find in Christ. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46).