November 28
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CAUTION TO THE RICH
A poem by ILMA
Listen carefully, all you who are rich: weep with anguish for what’s coming at you
There will be terrible troubles and suffering ahead of all those who are rich and famous
Your wealth will not last long, they will rot away and your clothes are like rags
Your gold and silver are corroded and that wealth will eat away your flesh like fire.
Those of you who are hoarders will face the day of judgment
Hoarding is clinging on to material possessions which you can’t bring anyway
You are born in this world without anything but naked
You will also return to the place you belong in the same way.
Hear the cries of those whom you have cheated so you can gain more
You have spent your years here on earth in luxury and convenience
You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter
You have fully satisfied yourselves instead of looking after other.
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MEMORY VERSE
Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you – James 5:1
Read: James 5:1-6
This letter of James gives a very harsh warning to the rich people. Like the man in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, we see how greedy that man was storing up so much riches for himself instead of gaining riches in heaven. He had no idea that one day, all these things he stored up for himself will be gone for he doesn’t know when his life will be taken away from him.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the rich are cautioned vehemently here by James?
• Do you think that all rich people are not going to enter God’s kingdom?
• How can you be wealthy and yet enter the kingdom of God?
• Why is it very hard for the rich to really be true disciples? What stops them from being a true follower of God?
Tag Archives: rich
TEACH THE RICH Poem Devotional
October 5________________________________________
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. – 1 Timothy 6:17(NLT)
TEACH THE RICH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Teach the wealthy people not to idolize their riches
Since they are material, they can be stolen or disintegrate
Remind them to focus on the giver of their possessions
They are mere stewards of God’s wonderful creation.
God promised us all to provide our needs
No need to hoard and live with the spirit of greed
Trust only God who blesses us abundantly
Don’t focus on things especially on the love of money.
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I was quite surprised when I read this verse that instructs us to teach the rich not to trust their money which is so unreliable. I don’t have much friends who are wealthy but this poses questions in my mind how to approach a rich person and remind him or her that it shouldn’t be all about their possessions and money. I have yet to meet someone filthy rich and serving the Lord. I don’t think it goes together. The bible says that we can’t serve two masters. Either we serve God or we serve money. If we use it for our selfish motives, it is an idol. If we use it to serve God’s purpose, then we are good stewards.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me never to love money.
REFLECTION
Why is it harder for the rich to focus on God?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
RICH IN CHRIST Poem Devotional
October 14
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I know about your suffering and your poverty – but you are rich! -Revelations 2:9(NLT)
RICH IN CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
The moment you believed in Jesus Christ
You are covered by his love and light
Christ is the King of all kings
You are rich if you believe in him.
You may be suffering from poverty
Stay strong and live for him faithfully
You are the son or daughter of God
You are always unconditionally loved.
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Romans 8:17 says “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” Those who belong to Christ is definitely going to receive his legacy since we are heirs of him. Everything belongs to Christ, so that means that we are rich. Sometimes it is very difficult to think of our true identity in Jesus because the enemy bombard us with so much lies about our real character. We are his prized possession. We are very valuable to him, his masterpiece.
This verse in Revelation was a message to the church in Smyrna but it is also relevant to us Christians who walk the path to Jesus. We can be afraid of suffering, but if we remain faithful, we will receive the crown of life. The Lord wants us to assert our riches in him.
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PRAYER
Lord, never let me lose sight of my true riches in you.
REFLECTION
What good can suffering and poverty bring to us?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
WEALTH CAN’T BRING TRUE HAPPINESS Poem Devotional
April 1________________________________________
Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think wealth brings true happiness. -Ecclesiastes 5:10(NLT)
WEALTH CAN’T BRING TRUE HAPPINESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Many people envy the wealthy
They think they live lives happily
Those who have much possessions
They become enslaved by their obsessions.
Those who love money will never have enough
They will always find something they lack
Store up treasures in heaven, not on earth
Commit to Jesus and always make him first
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Our society dazzles us with materialism. The world’s standard of beauty is based on external looks not the inside. The rich get more powerful and they are looked up to for their luxurious lifestyles. Some wealthy people become richer because of their love for money. Yet, the bible says that those who love money are never satisfied. They want more. Money in itself is not bad, but to obsess about it is what will lead you to greed and selfishness. There is no point in thinking that wealth can bring about happiness. On the contrary, there are very many wealthy people who are the loneliest. They do not have that priority for others because they are protecting their treasures all the time. Since money is their idol, they probably don’ have time for God either. We are reminded in Scriptures that it is meaningless to think that wealth can bring happiness.
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PRAYER
Lord, don’t let me be dazzled by material wealth.
REFLECTION
How can you protect yourself from the love of money?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
WARNING TO THE RICH Poem Devotional
December 18________________________________________
Look here, you rich people. Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. – James 5:1 (NLT)
WARNING TO THE RICH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you ever envy those who are rich and wealthy?
Material things don’t last long and are temporary
Rejoice when you don’t possess a lot and are poor
Christ came for you so he can cleanse you to be pure.
The rich will have troubles and difficulties
Their wealth will bring many forms of idolatry
Unless they use their wealth for God’s glory
They will have a hard time being saved by the Almighty.
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In our world today, the rich are put on a pedestal by many because of their wealth. They dictate much of the world’s concern and issues because they are looked up to as symbols of ¬¬¬¬power and might. The poor on the other hand become desperate and desolate because of the inability to have their needs met.
The bible warns the rich. They are in for trouble. They will weep and groan with anguish because of their wealth. If you are someone who possess so much wealth and power on earth, it will be very hard for you to be saved. Hebrews 13:5 tells us to keep yourself free from love of money. The rich became rich because they value their money and wealth so much. They forget to serve the Lord who gave them all.
PRAYER
Lord, help me never to aim to be rich but to become more like you.
REFLECTION
How can the rich enter God’s kingdom?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com