And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? Luke 16:11 (NLT)
This Scripture ought to really shock, shake, and sober us up to reality considering that most of us the only wealth we know, recognize, and seek is the natural, physical, worldly wealth. Money and material possessions is all we acknowledge as riches.
In this Scripture, there’s two kinds of wealth according to Jesus – worldly wealth and true riches. Worldly wealth isn’t true riches because here it is mentioned and set forth as different from true riches.
Truth is consistent it doesn’t change. True riches are reliable because they last forever and never depreciate.
True riches are not subject to destruction, rust, or theft.
Matthew 6:19-20 (GNT) “Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal.
If it can be destroyed, rust (wear and tear), and be stolen it is worldly wealth and not true riches.
Natural human wisdom is not true riches but worldly wealth because it can be stolen. It’s the reason why there are patents and copyright laws trying to protect intellectual property.
So are natural human strength and beauty. They wear out and fade which is rust.
Material possessions, money, and physical life itself can be broken into, stolen and destroyed.
This is how Solomon summed up all these things that make up worldly wealth – Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. All is futility (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and transitoriness)! Ecclesiastes 12:8 (AMPC)
True riches is the life, relationship, and fellowship we share with our heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
The peace, joy, assurance, rest, and wholeness that result from this communion with the Godhead cannot be stolen, diminished, stopped, or destroyed. They last forever.
The life God gives us in His Son Jesus Christ is known as Eternal Life. It is everlasting therefore it is true riches.
Jesus told us that no one can rob us of the joy He gives us. See-John 16:22.
True riches is also the life, relationship and fellowship we share with one another as a result of our communion with God.
It’s the loving, caring, forgiving, helping, and giving that we freely generously demonstrate to one another flowing from what we have received from God.