Chapter # 11 Paragraph # 6 Study # 2
June 30, 2019
Humble, Texas
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Thesis: True "riches" have their essence in the Relational Kingdom of God, but their basis of understanding in the material kingdoms of this world.
Introduction: In our first study of this paragraph we did not get beyond the issue of Paul's use of "depth". We saw that it most fundamentally addresses those physical realms of perception that do not typically exist on the human radar. Just as "the depth of the sea" is not our normal, daily, experience and we do not typically perceive the realities of that "depth", so also is the "depth" of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. We do not generally live in those depths; if we perceive anything of them at any time, it is most often just a kind of "glance" that does not cement itself into the roots of our thought.
The problem here is that all of the issues of the quality of life that we experience are rooted in the "depths" of our values and beliefs, many of which are "off our radar" pretty much all of the time. Thus, even for God, the adjustment of our values and beliefs is no small thing.
An illustration: Jesus made a promise to His apostles in John 16:13 that one of the results of the coming of the Spirit would be that He "will guide you into all truth". In the context, this meant that He would wind up Jesus' teaching ministry to the eleven by guiding them into the things that they "could not bear" at the present point of time. Because of the sloppy thinking in which most, if not all, of us are engaged, many have jumped to the conclusion that this particular "promise" was to be taken to include all believers. The outcome of this error in understanding has shown up in two ways: first, it has been taken to mean that all believers have been promised that somehow they will come into a mindset of "pure doctrine" as if by instantaneous illumination by the Spirit; and, second, it has been taken to mean that "my doctrine is pure because the Spirit has fulfilled this promise to me". This is demonstrably not true in the history of all believers. And, more importantly, it is not demonstrably true in the history of any believers. History is replete with the reality of people who steadfastly believe in Jesus as their Redeemer and their sole hope of eternal life who also steadfastly believe in "doctrines" which are at serious odds with other "doctrines" to which other "believers" strongly subscribe. The main outcome of this false notion that Jesus promised "all" believers would come to a grasp of "all truth" in this world has been predictable: those who believe it automatically assume that "they" are the "true believers" and all who disagree with them are not. And, if it does not come out that way, it comes out as a "well, those persons are not as committed as I am to the diligent study of the word and practice of dependence upon the Spirit to 'guide us into all truth'". In either case, "highmindedness" is the rule of the day.
Thus, as we pursue our study of Paul's paean of praise, we will be best served if we simply believe what he wrote: the "depths" are pretty much off of our radar.
- I. The Depth of the "Riches".
- A. This is another physical reality (moving on from "depth" as a physical level metaphor) in which the possession of material resources far out-strips the numerous demands upon those resources.
- B. But, Paul's use is, again, metaphoric: resources that out-strip the demands of life in a relational setting.
- 1. The first issue before us is the question, "Why did Paul refer to the depth of the 'riches'?".
- a. The answer is not hard: "riches" are longed for by everyone who has problems with "God" as the object of faith.
- 1) "Riches" are held up as of "extreme desirability" even by the Bible (consider 1 Kings 10:23).
- 2) "Riches" are also presented as the "anti-God" by the Bible (consider Jesus' declaration in Matthew 19:23-25).
- b. So, even with the Church gladly singing "I've got a mansion, just over the hilltop...", we see that Paul used "riches" because the word provides a basis for "interest" by all.
- 2. The second issue before us is "How do we understand Paul's metaphor?".
- a. To aid in our understanding, we need to consider to what the word "riches" points in terms of "what does wealth/riches do to us?".
- 1) It tends to drive us in the direction of an "idolatry" that has no substance.
- a) The testimony of the entire Old Testament, with its focus upon the "outer man", is that unless a person is deeply schooled in daily dependence upon God before he/she is "prospered", there is, really, no escape from the corroding influence of "riches" upon "faith" (Solomon is the classic example on the negative side and Joseph is the classic example on the positive side).
- b) 1 Timothy 6:8 declares that contentment in life is not tied to an abundance of physical resources.
- c) Matthew 13:22, repeated in Mark 4:19 and Luke 8:14, declares that there is a potent "deceit" in riches that can stymie The Word's intent to produce fruit in a person's life.
- d) Luke 12:18-20 calls the man who trusts in his wealth as a matter of security and ease a "fool".
- 2) It also tends to develop in us a kind of "high-mindedness" (1 Timothy 6:17) that is destructive to our relational life with others.
- b. To further aid in our understanding, we need to also consider to what the word "riches" points in terms of "what does wealth/riches do for us?".
- 1) It removes a great deal of the stress that is caused by the competition for resources that exists in our daily affairs.
- 2) Also, 1 Timothy 6:17 says that it makes life more "enjoyable" when the issue is "indulgence" without doing damage to others (self-indulgence is a dangerous, but permissible, occasional action).
- 3) And Luke 12:21 declares that material wealth opens a door of opportunity to be "rich toward God" with the outcome being a greater participation in His Relational Kingdom because of the underlying "faith" that pleases Him.
- 3. To come to some conclusions, we can grasp the metaphor more fully if we realize certain facts.
- a. Material "riches" are not really "riches"; they are simply a physical abundance that serves as a basis for our grasp of the true riches (Luke 16:11).
- b. True riches consist of participatory provisions that enable interaction with the eternal glory of divine realities (Romans 9:23).
- c. In our current text/context, the true "riches" are declared to be...
- 1) The experience of "mercy" (11:32).
- 2) The experience of "the fatness of the olive tree" (11:17).
- 3) The experience of "reconciliation" and "life from the dead" (11:15).
- 4) The benefits extended in "salvation" (11:11).
- 5) A complete "divorce" from material wealth: not one word in the extended context about material possessions.
- d. The goal of "true riches" is a deeper, more dependent, interaction with God unto Joy.
- 1) This "wealth" is first described in terms of "wisdom".
- 2) This "wealth" is then described in terms of "knowledge".