September 08 2025

Monday September 08

Riches for Eternity

Ephesians 1:1-14

Today we're going to finish up verses 1-14 of Ephesians 1. These are verses that have taught us so much about the eternal riches that we have in Christ Jesus. At the same time, we've looked at some major Bible doctrines that help us understand who God is, what God desires for us, and what God's plan for our lives is. Let's just review these verses before we move on.

First, we need to understand that true riches come from God. What a source of encouragement to know that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all working together on our behalf to make us rich in Christ Jesus. God not only gives us "richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17), but He gives us eternal riches without which all other wealth is valueless. In Jesus’ first recorded message on the Mount of Beatitudes He taught us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God…. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”. When we yield our lives in poverty to Jesus Christ, He gives us have an inheritance in heaven. Then when we literally yield our daily lives to Him, (that's what it means to be meek, yielded to the control of God and His Holy Spirit), then we enjoy everything on earth. In a very real sense we have all things richly to enjoy.

But not only does God give us richly things to enjoy on earth, He gives us eternal riches in Christ Jesus that last for eternity. Not just forever and ever. That's timewise, but for eternity and you can’t measure that. Wow, we are so rich. Over the years so many couples have come to us for counseling that are having financial issues. They've spent their lives buying things. They have a nice house, they have expensive cars, they have all these expensive things, but then they lost what they really wanted and had in the early days of their marriage. They lost their love. What good is it to have an expensive house if there is no home? Or an expensive ring if there is no love?

My friend, in Christ, you and I have what money can't buy. All these spiritual riches open up to us. All the wealth of God's vast creation. We enjoy the gifts because we know and love the Giver. Don't give up what you have in Christ for that which you will lose. Remember the famous quote by Jim Elliot: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose". 

Secondly, we learn that all these riches come from God's grace and for God's glory. Did you notice that after each of the main sections in Ephesians 1:4-14, Paul has added the purpose behind these gifts? Why has God the Father chosen us, adopted us, and accepted us? "To the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph. 1:6). Why has the Son redeemed us, forgiven us, revealed God's will to us, and made us part of God's inheritance? "That we should be to the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:12). Why has God the Spirit sealed us and become the guarantee of our future blessing? "Unto the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:14).

We often have the idea that God saves sinners mainly because He pities them, or wants to rescue them from eternal judgment, but God's main purpose is that He might be glorified. His creation reveals His wisdom and power, but His church reveals His love and grace. You cannot deserve or earn these spiritual riches; you can only receive them by grace, through faith.

Thirdly, these riches are only the beginning! There is always more spiritual wealth to claim from the Lord as we walk with Him. The Bible is our guidebook; the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. As we search the Word of God, we discover more and more of the riches we have in Christ. These riches were planned by the Father, purchased by the Son, and presented by the Spirit. There is really no need for us to live in poverty when all of God's wealth is at our disposal!

I love the little devotional book by Charles Haddon Spurgeon called “Faith Check Book”. A promise from the Bible is given for each day of the year, along with a short devotional message. The author described each promise as being as good as money in the bank to anyone who would claim it by faith, as a person would write a check against his bank account. By faith we can claim God's promises and draw on His limitless wealth to meet every need we may face. There is really no need for us to live in poverty when we have all of God's wealth at our disposal.

What a blessing is book has been to me over the years, and it could be one for you, too. You can cash in by faith on all of God's promises and meet every need that you have in your life today. (This book can be purchased on Amazon: Faith’s Check Book (One Minute Devotions).

You're rich in Christ. Don't forget it.

God bless!