RICHES

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable RICHES of Christ – Ephesians 3:8

There are immense RICHES in the package of Redemption! These include the RICHES of Mercy, GRACE, Goodness, and Glory! Our redemptive package in Christ is full of riches. Paul the apostle was privileged with unique grace and rare insight into these riches: “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph.3:8). Redemption is a spiritual, comprehensive insurance covering all areas of life: spirit, soul and body (2Thes.5:24); health, family, finances, career, and ministry. Complete redemption is inferred in Psalm 71:21, “You shall increase my greatness and comfort me on every side.” The riches of redemption denote the vast, abundant, wonderful blessings and mercies which the Gospel confers on us in Christ.

Broadly, riches are of two kinds: heavenly riches and earthly riches.

• Earthly riches are false, deceitful, and uncertain riches that the world offers. These cannot be trusted: “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage” (Pro.11:28). The tragic story of the rich fool attests to the vanity of trusting in earthly riches (Lk.12:15-21). The Lord Jesus Christ identified “the deceitfulness of riches” as one of the causes of fruitlessness (Mk.4:19). Paul admonished the rich: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1Tim. 6:17).
• Heavenly treasures are true, faithful, never-failing, and eternal riches. These are not subject to moth and rust destroying, or thieves breaking in to steal (Mt. 6:19-20). They constitute the “spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph.1:3). Ironically, faithfulness in the stewardship of earthly riches can be a strong pointer to faithfulness in the stewardship of heavenly riches: “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the TRUE RICHES?” (Lk.16:11).

Mercy, Grace, Goodness, and Glory are principal among the true riches – the unsearchable riches of redemption:

God is rich in MERCY: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us” (Eph.2:4).

God is rich in GRACE. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the Riches of His Grace” (Eph.1:7). Paul prayed further: “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph.2:7).

God is rich in GOODNESS: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom.2:4).

God is rich in WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out!”

God is rich in GLORY: “and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory” (Rom.9:23). Again, Paul prayed “that He (God) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph.3:16). He assured the Philippian Christians: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:19).

Riches are real. And heavenly riches – the riches of redemption – are even more real than earthly riches. May the Lord open our eyes to the reality of His unsearchable riches of redemption, and grant us their full enjoyment, in Jesus name!