Jeffrey Preston Bezos, or Jeff Bezos, as most of us know him, is the richest man in modern history. I recently read that on a single Thursday, his net worth went up five hundred million dollars. He’s so rich! He can buy absolutely anything, or can he?
Jeff Bezos May have over $150,000,000 to his name, but there’s one thing, and possibly only one thing, he can’t buy. What is it? Let’s back up for a second...
First, to my knowledge, there is nothing wrong with Jeff Bezos being super rich. I’m not aware of him earning his income in any negative or immoral way. He started Amazon from his basement selling books, now he could probably buy each and every product on Amazon.
There’s a verse from the Bible that come to mind when I think of Jeff Bezos, and I hope he’s thought of it too. The book of Proverbs chapter 11, verse 4 states “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
There is no doubt that Jeff Bezos doesn’t have riches, but that won’t help him on the day of wrath... or as other Bible translations say “... the day of judgement.” Jeff Bezos will die, and the Bible also says its appointed once for man to die, and afterwards comes judgement.
Side Note: Don’t think for a minute that I think any ill thoughts of Jeff Bezos. I neither know him, nor do I have anything against him. I am a happy Amazon Prime member, and have been for years. I also don’t presume I’m any better than Jeff Bezos, potentially just better off.
When Jeff Bezos (or you for that matter) finally kicks the bucket he’ll face his maker, God, a righteous, and good judge. Jeff Bezos won’t be judged based on his net worth, or even the good deeds he’s done. Instead, like all other court cases, he’ll have to answer for his crimes.
What crimes? Look to the 10 Commandments found in the Bible’s book of Exodus, chapter 20. Has Jeff Bezos ever told a lie? If so, that’s a violation of the 9th commandment. If Jeff Bezos has ever stolen anything, that’s a violation of the 8th commandment.
The 7th commandment says “You shall not commit adultery, and Jesus Christ said “...everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (See Matthew 5:28). Who of us can honestly say we’ve never looked with lust?
The sixth commandment states “you shall not murder” but, again Jesus magnified that commandment and stated “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (See 1 John 3:15)
I don’t know if Jeff Bezos is a Christian or not. But I do know that when he dies, and faces a just and holy God, he (like me, and everyone else) will be guilty of violating at least some of God’s Law (there’s more than just the 10 Commandments). Violating God’s law is called sin.
The Bible warns that the soul that sins, dies. And the destination for sin is a placed called hell. (All liars will have their part in the lake of fire, the Bible says). That’s not what I want. I want Jeff Bezos to go to heaven when he dies.
Remember that verse “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” It states that money won’t help Jeff Bezos when he dies, but what is it that will deliver him from death (Hell)? Righteousness.
We’ve already established that neither Jeff Bezos, nor me, nor you, have righteousness based on our lives. So, what then? The Bible says that God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ suffered and died for us on the cross, to pay the price for our sins. Then God raised Him from grave a few days later!
We broke the laws of God, and Jesus Christ paid our fine. Not only that, but Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life (the opposite of us). If we receive the grace of God through faith in Christ, God not only forgives all our sin, but we are given the righteousness of Christ.
On the day of wrath, or Judgement Day, it won’t be our righteousness that will deliver us from death, and it certainly won’t be riches, but the righteousness of Christ. It’s a free gift of God... no Amazon Prime Membership required.
I pray that Jeff Bezos, if he hasn’t already, would see the love God offers through the suffering death of Jesus Christ and place his faith solely in Jesus for his salvation. That way, Jeff Bezos won’t be headed to heaven because he’s rich, or nice, but because he’s loved and forgiven by God the father.
The Bible also says its hard for a rich man to enter heaven... it’s not because God’s love is any less for the rich man, but rather because a rich man may not even think he needs it. The odds of Jeff Bezos reading this are slim to none, so please be praying for him.
Saved by Grace,
~ brandt dary
Jeff Bezos May have over $150,000,000 to his name, but there’s one thing, and possibly only one thing, he can’t buy. What is it? Let’s back up for a second...
First, to my knowledge, there is nothing wrong with Jeff Bezos being super rich. I’m not aware of him earning his income in any negative or immoral way. He started Amazon from his basement selling books, now he could probably buy each and every product on Amazon.
There’s a verse from the Bible that come to mind when I think of Jeff Bezos, and I hope he’s thought of it too. The book of Proverbs chapter 11, verse 4 states “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
There is no doubt that Jeff Bezos doesn’t have riches, but that won’t help him on the day of wrath... or as other Bible translations say “... the day of judgement.” Jeff Bezos will die, and the Bible also says its appointed once for man to die, and afterwards comes judgement.
Side Note: Don’t think for a minute that I think any ill thoughts of Jeff Bezos. I neither know him, nor do I have anything against him. I am a happy Amazon Prime member, and have been for years. I also don’t presume I’m any better than Jeff Bezos, potentially just better off.
When Jeff Bezos (or you for that matter) finally kicks the bucket he’ll face his maker, God, a righteous, and good judge. Jeff Bezos won’t be judged based on his net worth, or even the good deeds he’s done. Instead, like all other court cases, he’ll have to answer for his crimes.
What crimes? Look to the 10 Commandments found in the Bible’s book of Exodus, chapter 20. Has Jeff Bezos ever told a lie? If so, that’s a violation of the 9th commandment. If Jeff Bezos has ever stolen anything, that’s a violation of the 8th commandment.
The 7th commandment says “You shall not commit adultery, and Jesus Christ said “...everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (See Matthew 5:28). Who of us can honestly say we’ve never looked with lust?
The sixth commandment states “you shall not murder” but, again Jesus magnified that commandment and stated “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (See 1 John 3:15)
I don’t know if Jeff Bezos is a Christian or not. But I do know that when he dies, and faces a just and holy God, he (like me, and everyone else) will be guilty of violating at least some of God’s Law (there’s more than just the 10 Commandments). Violating God’s law is called sin.
The Bible warns that the soul that sins, dies. And the destination for sin is a placed called hell. (All liars will have their part in the lake of fire, the Bible says). That’s not what I want. I want Jeff Bezos to go to heaven when he dies.
Remember that verse “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” It states that money won’t help Jeff Bezos when he dies, but what is it that will deliver him from death (Hell)? Righteousness.
We’ve already established that neither Jeff Bezos, nor me, nor you, have righteousness based on our lives. So, what then? The Bible says that God demonstrated His love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ suffered and died for us on the cross, to pay the price for our sins. Then God raised Him from grave a few days later!
We broke the laws of God, and Jesus Christ paid our fine. Not only that, but Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life (the opposite of us). If we receive the grace of God through faith in Christ, God not only forgives all our sin, but we are given the righteousness of Christ.
On the day of wrath, or Judgement Day, it won’t be our righteousness that will deliver us from death, and it certainly won’t be riches, but the righteousness of Christ. It’s a free gift of God... no Amazon Prime Membership required.
I pray that Jeff Bezos, if he hasn’t already, would see the love God offers through the suffering death of Jesus Christ and place his faith solely in Jesus for his salvation. That way, Jeff Bezos won’t be headed to heaven because he’s rich, or nice, but because he’s loved and forgiven by God the father.
The Bible also says its hard for a rich man to enter heaven... it’s not because God’s love is any less for the rich man, but rather because a rich man may not even think he needs it. The odds of Jeff Bezos reading this are slim to none, so please be praying for him.
Saved by Grace,
~ brandt dary
