Lamentations 4-5 - Before the siege, the people of Judah were physically wealthy but spiritually poor.  After the siege, all they had lived for and put their hope in was gone.  All they could do now was turn to God.  God will allow us to go through pain from our sin to help us turn back to him.

Song of Songs 8:8-14 - The woman grew up in a home that promoted her purity and was determined to help guard it.  Because of her purity, she was able to give herself completely to Solomon.  Their love remained intense. 

John 7:25-36 - The people knew where Jesus came from in a physical sense, but not in a spiritual sense.  He came from God and would return to God.  His miracles proved he was the messiah.  

1 Peter 5:8-14 - We have a spiritual enemy that is on the prowl, looking for ways to attack us and cause us to doubt God’s goodness.  Remain faithful to God and he will bless you for it. 

Lamentations 3 - God’s discipline followed their sin just as God said would happen if they didn’t repent.  God is faithful to do what he says.  Even in the darkness of God’s discipline, Jeremiah held on to the hope we find in God’s unending love.  Discipline is intended to turn us back to God and lead us to right living.  We must receive God’s discipline, admit our sin, and allow him to change us. 

Song of Songs 8:1-7 - The woman wished she could show her affection publicly, though it was not allowed in her culture.  Their love, love that is from God, is strong and priceless.

John 7:14-24 - People were amazed when Jesus taught because he had no formal training.  Jesus spoke what God told him to say, which is why it was powerful.  Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who would circumcise on the Sabbath, but were angry with him for healing on the Sabbath.  

1 Peter 5:1-7 - My responsibility as a pastor is to care for those that God has put under my leadership.  My reward is pleasing God and getting to serve him in this way.

Lamentations 2 - God’s destruction of Israel had no exceptions.  Israel’s rejection of God made them vulnerable to their enemies.  God did not even protect the temple.  Even though the temple was where they worshiped, the people’s worship did not please God because they were just going through the motions and did not honor God with their obedience.  God desires obedience over religious activity.

Song of Songs 7 - The exchange between the two lovers is a picture of the growing intimacy that God intended for marriage.  As the two continue to pursue one another, it stirs within them a deeper desire for the other and more confidence in expressing their desire.

John 7:1-13 - Jesus’ brothers did not believe in him but encouraged him to go to Judea and do his miracles so he could get famous.  They wanted Jesus to use his power for personal gain and they likely hoped to benefit from this fame as well.  Jesus remained out of public view because he knew the religious leaders were looking for him.  Jesus did miracles to prove who he was, but not for personal gain.  We should never leverage our personal calling to build our earthly kingdom, but to build God’s kingdom.

1 Peter 4:12-19 - If you suffer for obeying God, be faithful and continue to trust him because he will never fail you.  If you suffer for sin, it should turn you back to God.

Lamentations 1 - The people of Judah became captive to their sin and it led to their physical captivity.  Though they hoped their allies might help, their allies were powerless because their strength was not from God.  We need to surround ourselves with people who get their strength, wisdom, and hope from God.  We must learnt to ultimately depend on God alone.  

Song of Songs 6 - Here we see that the couples separation was merely emotional, not physical because she knew where he was.  When they reconciled, they each focussed on the good and beautiful attributes of the other and celebrated those things.  Their reconciliation was admired by those watching.  In marriage, we must choose to see and celebrate the good and beautiful thing we see in our spouses regularly to keep the emotional relationship close.

John 6:60-71 - There are many who will not accept Jesus because his truth is difficult for people to accept unless the Holy Spirit helps them understand.  Even Judas who was very close to Jesus did not accept him and later betrayed him.

1 Peter 4:1-11 - God uses pain in our lives to purify us and help us learn what it really means to rely on him.  Those who still live in the flesh don't understand why you don't indulge in the acts of the flesh and they may Mock and slander you, but remember that their way of life leads to more pain and destruction.  Live out your faith, diligently praying and love others the way Jesus loves you.  Use whatever gift God has given you to build his Kingdom.  

Jeremiah 52 - Jeremiah warned Israel of the coming disaster if they did not repent.  They refused to turn back to God so they were captured and their cities destroyed just as Jeremiah said would happen.  In human eyes, Jeremiah may not seem to be successful, but in God's eyes, he was successful because he was obedient and faithful to God.  

Song of Songs 5 - The picture here is a marriage that has lost its initial spark. As marriages mature, often there is a struggle for intimacy.  Often a man may make an attempt but is resisted, and when the woman is ready, the man has become preoccupied.  this struggle can hurt both parties emotionally as they battle feeling of rejection or inadequacy. 

John 6:41-59 - Jesus tells people he was sent from God and that anyone who believes in him would be saved.  He is the bread of life that gives eternal life to all who trust in him.

1 Peter 3:13-22 - We must continue to do good, regardless of what happens to us or threats against us.  Our good deeds should be evidence of our faith. 

I want to apologize for the delay in posting.  I am a bit ahead in my physical journal and during this busy time, this sometimes gets pushed back.  I will always try to stay caught up, but I appreciate your patience. 

Jeremiah 51 - God allowed Babylon to capture and oppress Israel because of their sin so that they might turn back to him.  However, God would not allow Babylon to go unpunished for the way they tormented the Israelites.  Hew Ould ultimately allow them to be destoyed too.  God is able to use evil to bring about his purposes.  

Song of Songs 4:8-16 - The virginity of his bride is compared to a private garden that is full of sweet fruit and fragrant spices only to be shared with him alone.  

John 6:25-40 - The people wanted to be around Jesus because of the miracles he did and how he could benefit their lives.  They wanted what they could get from Jesus, but did not want to believe in Jesus.  Just as God sent manna from heaven to sustain his people in the desert, God sent Jesus to give us real life and to sustain us spiritually.  He is the bread of life.

1 Peter 3:8-12 - As followers of Jesus, we must love one another the way in which Jesus loves us.  We must be kind and forgiving and work to maintain peace.

Jeremiah 50 - Even though God used Babylon to punish Israel, God would one day punish Baylon for the way they treated the Israelites.  At the core of their sin was their pride.  Babylon als is representative of evil in the end times.  Though it may seem as if evil is having its way, there will be a day when God will wipe out all evil.

Song of Songs 4:1-7 - Solomon is captured by the beauty of his wife.  It is good to notice the beauty in the one you love and to tell them.

John 6:16-24 - In the storms of life, we can be fearless because God is with us and he will get us where we need to go. 

1 Peter 3:1-7 - The way we treat our spouse is a testimony of our faith.  Wives must let their husband lead, but husbands must lead in a way to honor their wives.

Jeremiah 49 - God would soon destroy all the nations who occupied Israel’s territory, but ignored God and even worshiped false gods.  Any nation that rejects God and refuses to obey him is headed toward destruction.  America should take heed that the Lord will not allow evil to flourish forever.  Wickedness will destroy a nation. 

Song of Songs 3 - When you love someone, you care for their well being and you do whatever you need to do to ensure their safety and meet their needs.  Young women and men may yearn for the wedding day, but they are not ready for the selfless sacrifice required to truly love. 

John 6:1-15 - Jesus knew what he was going to do but chose to invite the disciples into the miracle.  Jesus did the miracle and used his disciples to carry it out.  God doesn’t need us but has invited us to be part of the miracle of taking the “bread of life” to others.  When they finished, there were 12 baskets of leftovers which was enough for each disciple to have one.  When they started, they had nothing, but when they were done, they had plenty. When we serve God it will often leave us with more than we started with because he fills us up and our faith grows.

1 Peter 2:18-25 - We must honor our earthly authorities unless what they ask us to do violates our conscience with God.  Even then, we must be respectful and willing to accept due punishment.  We will be rewarded for suffering for doing the right thing.  

Jeremiah 47-48 - Though God had allowed the Philistines and Moabites to become strong military forces for a time, God would soon bring judgment on them and wipe them out.  Though they boasted in their strength, their boasts were empty next to the power of God. 

Song of Songs 2 - Love is more than a feeling but a commitment that is developed through a strong relationship.  People would not rush into romance and allow their feelings to overshadow logic and reason when developing a lasting relationship.

John 5:31-47 - Jesus told the religious leaders that John the baptist was a witness for who he was but God himself was a witness through the miracles Jesus had performed.  Though the religious leaders knew the scriptures, they did not understand them because of they did, they would understand and believe who Jesus was.

1 Peter 2:9-17 - Live in a way that reflects your identity as one of God’s children and helps others see the goodness of God.  Respect everyone, love one another and show respect for human authority. 

Jeremiah 44-46 - The people blatantly refused to accept Jeremiah’s warning and told him they would continue to worship false gods.  They believed the false gods had given them prosperity in the past, but in reality it was their worship of false gods that had led to their destruction.  God warned the people of Judea to stay there and not flee to Egypt to try to find safety because Egypt too would fall to the Babylonians.  Jeremiah now predicts the fall of Egypt; the only place of safety we can run to is God.  Even when we have sinned, he is ready for us to repent and return to him.  Only he can restore what sin has destroyed. 

Song of Songs 1 - Here we get to see the love story of a king and his bride.  Their affectionate words for each other tells of their passionate love.  In the way in which the king adores his bride, is how God feels towards us, the church.

John 5:16-30 - Jesus claims God as his father and tells the religious leaders that he only does what the father tells him to do.  When he judges it is just because he is carrying out the will of God.  Anyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life, but those who reject him will experience judgment.  

1 Peter 2:1-8 - When we put our faith in Christ, we must get rid of the old ways of sin and instead grow into the full experience of salvation by consuming spiritual milk.  God wants to use our lives to build His kingdom.

Jeremiah 39-43 - The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem just as Jeremiah said they would.  They were captured and led away to captivity because of their sin.  Sin will cause us to be conquered and make us captive.  Jesus came to set us free and restore us.  Jeremiah warned Judah to stay in the land of Judah, but they refused and fled to Egypt.  Jermiah told them that they would not be able to escape because God’s judgment would find them there too.  We cannot run from the consequences of sin.  It always catches up to us eventually.  

Ecclesiastes 12 - Honor God while you are young and while you still have life.  Though Solomon was well read and wise, he discovered that all wisdom leads to honoring God and obeying him. 

John 5:1-15 - The lame man had put his hope in the wrong thing.  He thought he needed people to put him in the water when what he really needed was right in front of him.  What people need most is for their eyes to be open to Jesus.  He alone can meet their greatest need. 

1 Peter 1:17-25 - God shows no favoritism.  He will Judge us according to what we do.  If we trust him and follow him, it will lead to life.  If we reject him and live our own way, it will lead to death. 

Jeremiah 35-38 - Baruch read the words Jeremiah had told him to write and called people to fast.  Fasting is a way to deny ourselves while focusing on God and allowing him to prepare us and strengthen us.  It is a way of recognizing that our spiritual need is greater than our physical need.  Even though the king attempted to destroy the scroll because he didn’t like what it said, Jeremiah was able to reproduce it because God’s word will never pass away.  Jeremiah called the Israelites to observe the Recabites behavior.  They remained faithful to follow the instructions of their ancestors.  If we will be faithful to what God has told us, he will take care of us.  God’s truth never expires.  His truth then is still true today, regardless of what culture says.  Jeremiah was persecuted for speaking the truth, but God continued to take care of him.  God’s plan may not be easy, but it has purpose. 

Ecclesiastes 11 - Make each day that God gives you count.  Invest what God gives you to invest.  Plant the seed he gives you.  If you wait for the perfect time, it will never come.  

John 4:43-54 - Jesus healed the Roman official's son because of his faith.  The jews struggled to believe, but this Roman had faith that Jesus could heal his son.  Jesus demonstrated that he came for all and all who believe will receive. 

1 Peter 1:10-16 - The salvation that many were looking for was revealed in Jesus.  Those who have received this salvation should be changed by it and live in a way that points others to Jesus. 

​Jeremiah 32-34 - The principle that we see over and over is that you cannot continue in sin without eventually experiencing the consequences.  God is a patient God and gives many opportunities to turn back. God will one day restore what sin has destroyed.

Ecclesiastes 10 - When wise leaders are in charge, it is obvious by the decisions they make, those they put around them, and how they live.  Those they lead will benefit from their leadership.  Foolish leaders make foolish decisions and those they lead suffer. 

John 4:27-42 - When the woman at the well believed in Jesus, she went to the town immediately to invite others to come and see for themselves.  Inviting others to come and see for themselves is the right response to faith.  Others believe - not because of what the woman told them, but because they had experienced Jesus for themselves.  

1 Peter 1:1-9 - We can have confidence and joy because of what God has done for us through Jesus and the promise for the future he has given us.  This hope and confidence will carry us through any trials or challenges of life. 

Jeremiah 30-31 - God told Judah and Israel that one day he would bring them back to their land and he will reestablish them. The city was rebuilt but the final restoration will take place when Jesus returns and gathers all believers together in God’s kingdom. 

Ecclesiastes 9 - Even though it may seem that everyone shares the same fate regardless of how they live, one must choose to live wisely.  Our hope isn’t in escaping troubles and trials here on earth, but in the promise of eternity with God.  Wisdom can save many and sinful living can destroy many.

John 4:15-26 - The woman wanted living water so it would make her life easier. We often think following Jesus should make our lives easier, when in reality it makes our lives more meaningful, but not necessarily easier.  If we truly follow Jesus, he will keep us from sin that makes our lives more difficult, but sometimes life is difficult because we live in a fallen world.  Jesus exposed her sin and her first response was an attempt to find fault with him.  He told her that worshiping God is not about the physical place, but learning to worship God spiritually.  Worship isn’t simply physical acts, but should reflect a heart of obedience to God.  Jesus then revealed that he was the Messiah, which is significant because she was considered an outcast.  Jesus came for the least of these and gave us all equal value in his kingdom. 

James 5:13-20 - Prayer is a key way to experience God’s power in our lives. 

Jeremiah 26-29 - People continued to want to kill Jeremiah for his warnings of the coming judgment.  God continued to send him to warn them so that they might turn back to him, but they refused.  Other false prophets spoke out with messages that contradicted Jeremiah’s and they were judged by God for giving people false hope and leading them astray.  We must be sure to only tell people what God ahs said and not try to make people feel okay about sin.  Sin always destroys us.  

Ecclesiastes 8 - To enjoy the time God gives us, we must do what is right and trust God with the outcome.  Have fun and work hard and look to God for happiness.  

John 4:1-14 - It says that Jesus stopped to rest at the well because he was tired and weary from the long journey.  Because Jesus was fully human, he can empathize with our struggles.  The woman who came to the well was in need of spiritual water while Jesus asked for a drink of physical water.  Her soul was tired and weary from the journey and while she could give Jesus a drink to meet his physical need, he had come to offer her a drink of living water that would meet her greater spiritual need.  Only God can satisfy our deepest need and it’s through Jesus that he has made this possible.

James 5:7-12 - We must patiently wait for the Lord’s return and remain faithful to Him.  We should not judge one another.  God will bless our faithfulness if we endure. 

Jeremiah 23-25 - Jeremiah continued to warn Israel that their sin would lead to disaster, even though his message was not welcomed.  The other prophets who told the people what they wanted to hear would be judged harshly for not caring for the sheep God had entrusted to them.  Jeremiah continued to plead with people to turn back to God in order to avoid judgment.  They did not, but instead took him prisoner and wanted to kill him but God gave him favor with men who stood up for him and protected him. 

Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 - God created us to do good, but we sin when we choose to follow our own desires instead of God’s and this leads to wickedness.  No one is able to be sinless, but when we turn our focus to pleasing God, rather than self, he will lead us away from sin. 

John 3:22-36 - John came to point to Jessu.  His desire was that Jesus would increase and he would decrease because only through faith in Jesus could people be saved and escape God’s judgment for sin.  

James 5:1-6 - God blesses people with wealth to be a tool to take care of others and carry out his ministry.  When wealth becomes a treasure that we hoard or find our satisfaction and security in, it becomes our God and is a God that cannot save you. 

Jeremiah 19–22 – Jeremiah illustrated the coming judgment because of the sin of God’s people. His words were rejected and he was beaten. Doing God's work will not always be easy or comfortable because people will not always receive God‘s truth. We must do what God tells us to do anyway and trust him with the outcome. King Zedekiah turned to God in his trouble but did not admit his sin or his rebellion. God wants us to come to him during the good and bad times and to admit our failures to him. 

Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 - We should live with the end in mind, making the most of what God has given us.  It is better to have wise people around you who will be honest with you than to have people around you who will only tell you what you want to hear. We should work to build a good reputation by living wisely and enjoying whatever God has given us. 

John 3:16-21 - God sent Jesus to save us, not judge us.  Anyone who refuses to believe is choosing judgment because they love the darkness and hate the light. 

James 4:11-17 - We don’t need to judge each other because God alone is the judge.  We should trust God with the future and do whatever he tells us to do.  It is ok to make plans, but we should hold them loosely, trusting God with them.

Jeremiah 14–15 – God was tired of Judas rebellion and fake repentance. He let them experience the pain of doing things their own way and turned a deaf ear to their complaints. Jeremiah voiced his own complaints and his suffering and God reminded him that he is the Lord‘s messenger and that he would take care of Jeremiah. When we do things our own way, we can’t blame God when things go bad. When things are bad, and we have been obedient to God, we can trust him to carry us through.

Ecclesiastes 5 – Life is better when you keep things simple and you don’t chase after wealth. If you make a commitment to God, you should follow through. It is best to learn to be content with what God has given us and enjoy the life we have. Recognize that each day you get and all that you have is a gift. Enjoy it!

John 2:12–25 – Jesus was angry because merchants were using what was required for sacrifice as a way to get rich. They weren’t there to help people honor God but to make money on the religious requirements of the law. We should not use religion as a tool for personal wealth. Jesus prophesied about rising from the dead, though they did not recognize it at the time. One mini trust in Jesus, he did not trust him because he knew how fickle all mankind can be. He knows us completely and loves us completely.

James 3:13–18 – Those who are humble and wise are willing to yield to others for the sake of peace.

​Jeremiah 12–13 - When Jeremiah asked God for relief, God told him that things were only going to get worse because of the sin of the people of Israel. Jeremiah was committed to obeying God, but it did not mean life was going to be easy. Are we committed to God even if life is tough? Jeremiah used a loin cloth to illustrate the spiritual state of Judah. They had once been close to God, but because of sin, they were rotting away and useless. Sin makes us useless to be used by God if we refuse to repent. It also leads to destruction in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 4 – It is pointless to chase success out of envy. There will always be someone who is more successful, so it is a never ending race. Chasing after power politically is meaningless too. The way in which you get to power is the same way you will be taken out of power. It is best to invest in relationships. That is what will carry you through the good and bad times.

John 2:1–11 – Jesus was the second wine. He was the second Adam that was better than the first. Also he took the jars used for ceremonial cleansing and turned the water to wine. At the end of his life, he would tell people that the wine represented his blood that would be shed to make us clean.

James 3:1–12 – Our lives are often steered by the things we say. If we learn to control our tongues, we will be able to better control the direction and quality of our lives. What comes out of our mouths tells us what is in our heart. To control the tongue, we must ask God to change our heart.

Jeremiah 10–11 – God told the Israelites not to look to the stars to try to tell the future, but instead to look to God, the one who made the stars. Israel’s sin was that they turned from following God to following the ways of the world. They even rejoiced in doing evil. Many got mad at Jeremiah for what he was telling them, so they made plans to kill him. God would not let that happen, but instead destroyed them. We should not be angry with God's messengers when their message confronts our sin, but instead we should receive the correction and repent.

Ecclesiastes 3:16–22 – We must learn to enjoy life while we have it. We need to make the most of what God has given us.

John 1:43–51 – When Philip recognized who Jesus was, his response was to go and tell Nathanael to come and see. Nathanael was a skeptic until Jesus opened his eyes to see who he was. He saw Nathanael before Nathaniel saw Jesus. God sees us even before we see him.

James 2:14–26 – Real faith has visible fruit because it changes the way we live. When we have faith, we have stopped trusting our way and chosen to surrender to God‘s way in every area of our lives. That is what faith should look like.

Jeremiah 7–9 – The people in Judah did not honor God with their lives. They failed to obey him but thought their temple attendance and religious behavior could save them. Religious behavior isn’t what God desires. He wants obedience and faithfulness. The false prophets gave the people a false hope by telling the people what they wanted to hear and that they were fine. We must tell the truth about what God says and be grateful for those who speak the truth even when it isn’t easy to hear. The only thing we should find confidence in is knowing God and understanding his truth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–15 – Things in life are seasonal and cyclical. It is important for us to learn to enjoy the seasons we are in and to understand the cycles of life and live wisely in each cycle. God has created us for so much more than the seasons in cycles. An eternal view can help us endure and even enjoy each season and cycle.

John 1:35–42 – John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah when he looked at him. God gave him eyes to see Jesus for who he was. Jesus invited John’s disciples to come and see for themselves where Jesus was staying, but it was really an invitation to come and see for themselves who Jesus was. When they recognized him as the Messiah, they invited others to come and see for themselves. When we see Jesus for who he is, we should respond by inviting others to come and see for themselves.

James 2:1–13 – We should not show favoritism to those who are rich or can benefit us the most. We shouldn’t let those who are wealthy determine how we do ministry. God is the one who does that. If wealth begins to drive our decisions, then wealth has taken the place of God. The wealthy often create the most resistance because they often believe their wealth should position them to have power. They have lost sight of the one who gave them all that they have in the first place and don’t recognize they are only managers of God's money. We should love and minister to people equally, regardless of financial status. God loves people because they are people, not because of their financial status.

Jeremiah 5–6 – Israel turned from God completely and lost all reverence and respect for God. As a result God began stripping them of all they cherished more than him. They were unrepentant and determined to continue doing what they wanted. When we are unrepentant, disaster is near. Judah was warned once again what would happen if they continued in their own ways. Even the religious leaders failed to offer truth that would heal them spiritually. They refused to walk in the old godly ways because that is not what they wanted to do. Refusing to repent will lead to destruction.

Ecclesiastes 2:17–26 – Working hard to build our kingdom here on earth is pointless. It is better to learn to enjoy our time on earth as we work and enjoy the joy the food and drink that God gives us. We must change the way we see our time on earth. There is joy to be found in the work we do when we see that each day and all that we have is a gift from God to enjoy.

John 1:29–34 – Jesus was baptized as part of God’s plan to reveal himself as the Messiah. His baptism was different than anyone else’s because the Holy Spirit came on him and revealed who he was.

James 1:19–27 – We must learn to control our tongues by listening more than we speak and not allowing human emotion to cause us to say things that don’t honor God. When we see something in scripture that exposes sin or a wrong thought or attitude, we must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in making changes so our hearts and actions will align with his truth. A heart that honors God is one that cares for the weak and loves God by obeying what he says.

​Jeremiah 3–4 – Israel had been captured by the Assyrians because of their sin. They returned from God and did not even pretend to know and follow God. Judah pretended to worship God but they were not committed to his Waze. Because of their sin and hard hearts, destruction was coming. When we heart in our hearts to God and continue to sin, we set ourselves up for destruction.

Ecclesiastes  2:1–16 – everything we chase after in this world won’t last. The only thing that will last and all that will matter is what we do for Christ.

John 1:19–28 – John was the one God had promised he would send before Jesus to prepare the way for Jesus.

James 1:12–18 – God will bless those who remain faithful through testing in temptation. Our enemy tips us with things that appeal to our flesh. Only what comes from God is good, so we must remain faithful to him and trust him.

Jeremiah 1–2 – God chose to use Jeremiah when he was young to be His mouthpiece. We should not ever allow age to be a reason to ignore what someone has to say. Israel had not fulfilled their commitment to follow God even though he had brought them out of slavery, through the desert and into the promised land. Not only did they fail to be faithful, they were not willing to turn from their sin when they were confronted. God is patient, but when we refused to turn from our sin, we will experience the destruction that comes with it.

Ecclesiastes 1 – At the end of Solomon’s life, he looked back to see that even after all he had accomplished and all he had done and all the wisdom and riches he had gained, it was all meaningless apart from God. In the end all that will matter and all that will last is what we’ve done with and for Christ.

John 1:1–18 – God used John as an eyewitness to Jesus' life to record an account of his life. He began this account by first establishing that Jesus was fully God and fully man and anyone who believes in him could be saved and given a new life through a spiritual birth into the family of God.

James 1:1–11 – We all will face trials and struggles in life and it is in the midst of these that our faith can grow. Faith grows when tested. God uses the struggles to strengthen us and help us become who he made us to be. We can ask God for wisdom, and he will give it. But don’t ask God for wisdom if you aren’t going to follow the wisdom he gives but rather follow the wisdom of the world. Those who are rich are tempted to put their faith in their wealth, but those who are poor learn to trust God for all their needs. Even though the rich may stand out like a beautiful flower now, they will one day pass away and their wealth will be meaningless.