Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Rich and Happy?
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Rich and Happy?
Television celebrity Simon Cowell doesn’t like most rich people. In The U.S. Sun, he said, “I think a lot of those people thought they were better than other people because they had money, which is ridiculous when you think about it.” He recalls asking his fiancée, “Do we actually know anyone who’s rich … and happy?” She said, “No,” and he replied, “Nor me.”1
Yes, we need enough to meet our needs along with enough to give back to the Lord. But our real comfort and cheerfulness are based on the sheer presence of God with us through thick and thin, through rain and sunshine. Because He will never leave or forsake us, we can be content with what we have.
As the worship of wealth and materialism accelerates, the Bible can keep us from yielding to these pressures. Nothing is sadder than someone whose pockets are full but whose heart is empty. Ask the Lord to make you content with His loving provision and spend time thanking Him for all His daily provisions.
Even if materialism brought happiness in this life (which is certainly does not), it would leave us woefully unprepared for the next.
Randy Alcorn
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Some 2,600 years ago, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream. In this dream, the king saw a five–part statue made of five different metals (see Daniel 2). Each section represented an empire, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. Four of these empires have already risen and fallen in history—a clear fulfillment of Daniel's prophetic interpretation. The fifth and final empire indicates a future Europe—a ten nation coalition that will unite under the Antichrist's rule.
You can read about the King's dream and Daniel's interpretation in Daniel 2, but let's take a quick visual look at what you will find:
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King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).
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Medo–Persian Empire
The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).
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Grecian Empire
Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).
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Roman Empire
When the Grecian empire was conquered by Rome, all the lands and peoples of the previous kingdoms were assimilated into the Roman Empire through the strengths of the "iron legions of Rome" (Daniel 2:40).
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Future European Coalition
This empire has not yet risen. Daniel foretells a time when the Roman Empire—Europe—will consist of ten kingdoms or leaders. The future Roman Empire will be present on the earth when God sets up His earthly kingdom (Daniel 2:44).