Paul often wrote to preachers.  He says, “I’m bringing you this information; I want this taught to the church; it’s vital that you get these teachings to the church.  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life.”  The Bible gives us different warnings (let me give you a couple of verses quickly):  Deuteronomy 8:13: “And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God…”  “How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24).  So, according to the Scriptures does this abundance, this that now leads me to independence, this that leads me to think that I am somebody, cause me to forget the Lord? 

How many of you know that most rich people think that they are somebody.  “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36); amen?  May I ask you a question?  How much character have you shown with what you have?  Because “whosoever hath, to him shall be given” (Matthew 13:12).  A man who has character to operate in the blessings biblically is a candidate for more.  Those who handle the talents responsibly were people to whom He could give more talents; amen?  Are you the exception, or might you forget the Lord?  Psalm 62:10 says, “Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery:  if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”  I won’t get off on this right now, but there are many Scriptures that speak of the rich taking advantage of the poor; that's one of the reasons that God set this order for the household of faith:  you may not charge interest to a brother.

God didn’t want the rich ruling over the poor but, to be a blessing to them, not take advantage of them.  “Buy low.”  You have a deal you’re negotiating with somebody, and you keep trying to lowball them.  When you’re conducting business with somebody, look at where they are and the needs of both parties.  But some of us just have to satisfy our own egos and win every deal.  You know, there are certain business transactions in which we might want to pay people more than it’s worth because they need it; amen? I’m sure some of you have done that; I know I have.  You can’t rip this guy off, you know.

I remember when I first got saved, and I had this one job, I was selling insulation.  It was called Insulfluf; it really worked.  We had a demonstration that scared the tar out of all the old people:  We’d show them Rockwool and we’d show them the fiberglass, then we’d break this torch out and melt that Rockwool, melt that fiberglass and say, “That’s what’s above you in your ceiling.  If ever there was a fire, you’re going to be a molten blob, but Insulfluf…” and we would take a part of the Insulfluf and lay a penny on it and take that torch and melt that penny and it didn’t even char.  It actually was pretty good stuff.  And so, this man and this woman were sitting there, saying, “Oh, if we eat only once a week, we can protect ourselves.”  So, I said, “No: you can’t afford this and I won’t sell it to you.”  I had just started out and that was my first sale—which I unsold.  We bless people.