Job 1:3

Wealth and piety.

I. THEIR COMMON CHARACTERISTICS .

1 . God ' s gifts ; and therefore to be received with thankfulness.

2 . Man ' s ornaments ; and therefore to be borne humbly.

3 . A Christian ' s talents ; and therefore to be used with fidelity.

II. THEIR RECIPROCAL RELATIONS .

1 . Wealth and piety are not necessarily incompatible.

2 . Wealth and piety are often mutually destructive.

3 . Wealth and piety may prove reciprocally helpful

III. THEIR COMPARATIVE EXCELLENCES .

1 . Piety may be obtained by all; wealth can be secured only by a few.

2 . Piety is useful to all; wealth is injurious to some.

3 . Piety will abide with all; wealth can remain with none.

LESSONS .

1 . They that have piety can do without wealth.

2 . They that have wealth cannot do without piety.