There Is Something Better Than Gold 1 WS242
There Is Something Better Than Gold
by Wesley Simons
Introduction
1. Many people are destroying themselves because of a love for material
things.
2. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while
some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows. 2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me,
having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;
Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
3. Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness:
for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he
possesseth.
4. Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5. People who are not rich toward God will be lost: Luke 12:21 So is he that
layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
6. There are things that are better than gold. We want to look at some of these.
I. A Good Name.
1. Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and
loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2. Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the
day of death than the day of one's birth.
3. Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me
to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the
Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall
gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be
destroyed, I and my house.
4. There is some in a name. Do you know any children named Jezebel or
sons named Judas.
II. Health.
1. Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have
give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
2. 3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be
in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3. One cannot buy good health.
III. God’s Word.
1. Psalm 19:9-11 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the
judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be
desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than
honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
and in keeping of them there is great reward.
2. Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and
instruction, and understanding.
3. God’s word is valuable because of what it will do: John 8:32 And ye shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 1 Peter 1:22-25 Seeing
ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure
heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word
of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is
preached unto you. Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to
God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to
give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
IV. A Good Conscience.
1. Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that
he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces
of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I
have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see
thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and
departed, and went and hanged himself.
2. The function of the conscience: Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles,
which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law,
these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the
work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one
another;)
3. The conscience must be educated: Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly
beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good
conscience before God until this day.
4. We must do everything that God requires to receive this good conscience:
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save
us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
V. The Trial Of One’s Faith.
1. 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
2. James 1:1-5 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the
twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.2 My brethren, count it
all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the
trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
3. James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard
of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is
very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
VI. God’s Favor.
1. Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and
loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
3. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
4. Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world:
VII. Salvation.
1. Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul?
2. Luke 18:22-23 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet
lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 And
when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
3. A gravel and a billion dollars will be worth the same judgment day.
4. Would Judas like another chance? John 17:12 While I was with them in
the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept,
and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might
be fulfilled.
VII. Treasures In Heaven.
1. Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
2. Who was the richest the rich man or Lazarus? Luke 16:22-23 And it came
to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into
Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell
he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus in his bosom.
3. John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.
Conclusion
1. We need to make sure that we do not lose our souls in the pursuit of material
things.
2. Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall
I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the LORD.
3. 1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we
can carry nothing out.
4. Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
6. Please obey God today by: Believing (Jn. 8:24); repenting (Lk. 13:3);
Confessing (Matt. 10:32-33); and being baptized (Acts 2:38).
7. Then one is obligated to live the good Christian life (Rev. 2:10).
8. Will you be happy a million years from now?
9. One passes through this life one time -- please make the right decision!!!