Mensa Otabil - Don't Trust in Riches (09/27/2025)
We spent this week talking about trust—trust in God and different ways in which we should trust Him. We’ve looked at our trust in His ways, trusting God for security, trusting God no matter what, trusting in the name of the Lord, and trusting Him to direct our paths. Today, we’re going to look at a warning that Scripture gives us about something we should not trust: 1 Timothy chapter 6 commands those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
So, the warning from Scripture is for those of us who are rich in this present age. Now, I know that riches are always relative; one person’s rich is another person’s poor. Somebody may have a hundred thousand dollars left and think he’s poor, while another person has a million and thinks he is the worst person in the world. Yet, a hundred thousand and a million could be the salvation of so many people. I understand that it’s relative, but if you have the world’s opportunities and you’ve been blessed, living a better life than your parents did, and life is improving for you, this is a warning for you and me that we shouldn’t trust in uncertain riches.
Our world has gone through some major trauma in the last three months, and everything we thought was certain has shifted. Nations that were very rich are tumbling, businesses are collapsing; all of a sudden, everything that seemed so sure is no longer sure. So, the Bible says not to trust in uncertain riches. What does that mean? It means that no matter how well you seem to be doing at any point in your life, the transition from surety to disaster can be very short; it can happen very quickly.
So when riches increase, don’t set your heart on them. Instead, trust in the living God who gives richly. Isn’t that interesting? We don’t trust the riches, but we trust the one who gives richly. This means that when God is the constant, the riches may not be there, but God is there, and He will give richly. But when your trust is in the riches and they are not there, you have nothing to hold on to. So, when things improve for us, we must not set our hearts on them.
It is a warning that God continually gives to His children. He told the children of Israel, when you go to the promised land and things are working for you, you must be careful not to put your heart in those things. He is telling us now that when life is going well for us—and I believe life will go well for you, if it’s not already good—I know without any shadow of doubt that if you trust God and your confidence is in Him, you will prosper. But when you prosper, don’t throw away the God who prospered you, because He is the source of all true riches. When wealth passes away, God remains and blesses us richly with all things. As you trust the Lord, may His spirit guide you, may He strengthen you, and may He give you the greatest life you’ve ever had. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.