Romans 7:4 - Building Wealth for God's Glory

Romans 7:4
Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God

Message: Building Wealth for God's Glory

Time: Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying: As we trust in Jesus, there is a union that takes place as we die to our achievement of works in order to gain God's acceptance, recognizing that Jesus through His body has justified us, and so we are joined together with Christ, almost like a marriage -- and all of this results in good works. Good works on their own do not merit salvation or merit God's acceptance of us, but instead good works or the result of the union with Christ.

And these series of lessons are looking at wealth and the fact that good works may include increasing wealth. What was mentioned in the Tabletalk lesson for this day (again, I'm behind and so today is actually November 5, 2015) is that we can build wealth for God's glory. It gave the example of Henry Ford and creating jobs through the assembly line of automobiles which also made them affordable to many. Yes, he made millions in the process, but he also produced a product not previously available, for many people. And with much responsibility, we also are responsible for giving our wealth to those in need.

Promise: When we seek first the kingdom of God, our pursuit of productivity and the building of wealth are holy endeavors that enable us to support the work of the church and assist many people who have great financial needs.

Prayer: Lord, remind me that I can help others in need. Thank you for placing people in my life that I know have needs, like James and Joyce and family and I'm now thinking about Raj and Sourn in Cambodia. Lord, provide for their needs and draw people to yourself. THank you for the way in which they are serving you.