WHY IS THE BIBLE FILLED WITH RICHES? Esther 1:4; Luke 11:31.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inMoney/Riches, wisdomTags:, , , ,

People are poor. Many struggle to feed their children. Yet the Bible—a story about God’s compassion for the least of these—is filled with tales of the greatest among us.

We meet Egypt’s pharaohs. Then God’s kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. Solomon builds a temple covered in gold. The nation splits. Nineteen of history’s richest men come and go as kings of Israel. Twenty take turns on Judah’s throne, the tales of their lavish wealth filling page after page of the Old Testament. Then God’s people are taken to Babylon where they see the wealth of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus. Some end up in Persia, living under the king who marries Esther. The book of Esther opens with a record of a six-month feast hosted by the king. He “displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness for a total of 180 days” Esther 1:4.

(How much wealth must he have had if it took six months to show it all off?)

The Bible is filled with riches: golden cups, gold shields, gold idols, bronze and silver beyond measure, precious stones, horses, camels, livestock numbering in the thousands.

The Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, bringing him spices, gold, and precious stones. This queen had seen amazing things, but when she saw Solomon’s kingdom, she was overwhelmed.

The queen said, “I did not believe it until I saw it … but the wealth you have far exceeds the report I heard!” I Kings 10:4-7.

Why does a Book written for a poor audience speak so often about incomprehensible wealth?

Jesus explained it.

“The Queen of Sheba … came from the ends of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now ONE GREATER THAN SOLOMON is here” Luke 11:31.

No book in history catalogues the wealth of kings down through the centuries the way the Bible does. Its pages are filled with rubies, purple linens, feldspar floors, marble statues, and gold measured by the ton. Yet what are the world’s greatest treasures compared to Heaven? What is humanity’s wisest king compared to Jesus? What is Solomon’s golden temple compared to the throne of God in Heaven?

Heaven is YOUR REAL HOME.

Jesus is YOUR WISE TEACHER.

ΑΩ

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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