THE LOVE OF MONEY VERSUS TRUST IN GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 20, 2021.

SUBJECT : THE LOVE OF MONEY VERSUS TRUST IN GOD!

Memory verse: “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” (First Timothy 6 vs 17).

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 6 - 10:

6:6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

6:7: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 6:8: And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

6:9: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

6:10: For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

INTIMATION:

Looking at the world around us, we can see that money has tremendous power. It obviously enables us to do things we can't otherwise do, and it gives us a certain level of respect and great confidence. For instance, when a rich man walks into a room, his financial status gives him authority that a poor person in the same room doesn't have. 

Then Scripture buttressed this point in Ecclesiastes 10 vs 19; 7 vs 12 when it says, "Money answers all things." And ".....Money is a defense." The danger is that unless you are careful, you will begin to trust more in the power of money than you do in the power of God. This calls to mind the slang 'Money speaks' for those you trust in the power of money. We throw money at our problems, but just as the thrill of wine is only temporal, the soothing effect of the last purchase soon wears off and we have to buy more. 

Scripture recognizes that money is necessary for survival, but it warns against the love of money. Money is dangerous because it deceives us into thinking that wealth is the easiest way to get all we want. The love of money is sinful because we trust money rather than God to solve our problems. Those who pursue its empty promises will one day discover that they have nothing because they are spiritually bankrupt.

The last verse in that passage is very interesting. It says that your heart is where your treasure is; which means you can tell where a person's heart is by where their money (treasure) goes. This Scripture illustrates the point Jesus was making with the rich young ruler when He told the man to sell all of his goods. (Mark 10 vs 21.)  Jesus was saying, "If you really love and trust Me more than your money, then put your treasure in heaven." The man wouldn't do it because his treasure and his heart were on earthly riches. 

Jesus never asked him to sell and bring the money to Him. He has no need for it. Jesus loved him (Mark 10 vs 21) and wanted to show him the right path of life for him to walk in (Psalm 16 vs 11). Of course, we know that the Lord would have blessed that man back with even more than he gave away (Proverbs 19 vs 17), so God wasn't trying to take from him. Jesus was just trying to get the man to put his total trust and dependence on God.

Do not let the love of money drive the real thing out of you—the love and trust in God! Live a life of contentment and godliness which is greatly gainful. The Scripture admonishes us, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13 vs 5.)

God has given us a promise “never to leave nor forsake us.” So, why don’t you put your absolute trust in Him whom nothing is impossible with nor difficult for? Those things money can’t get you are only possible with Him, and never difficult for Him! The apostle Paul admonishes in our memory verse, “not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 

Prayer: Abba Father, You have given us all that pertains to life and godliness. Endue me with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, that I may know the hope of Your calling, and the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in us that believes, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

What Makes Jesus Rejoice

In that same hour he [Jesus] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Luke 10:21)

This verse is one of only two places in the Gospels where Jesus is said to rejoice. The seventy disciples have just returned from their preaching tours and reported their success to Jesus. 

Notice that all three members of the Trinity are rejoicing here: Jesus is rejoicing, but it says he is rejoicing in the Holy Spirit. I take that to mean that the Holy Spirit is filling him and moving him to rejoice. Then at the end of the verse it describes the pleasure of God the Father. The NIV translates it, “Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” — what you rejoiced to do!

Now, what is it that has the whole Trinity rejoicing together in this place? It is the free, electing love of God to hide things from the intellectual elite and to reveal them to babes. “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” 

And what is it that the Father hides from some and reveals to others? Luke 10:22 gives the answer, “No one knows who the Son is except the Father.” So, what God the Father must reveal is the true spiritual identity of the Son. 

When the seventy disciples return from their evangelistic mission and give their report to Jesus, he and the Holy Spirit rejoice that God the Father has chosen, according to his own good pleasure — his own rejoicing — to reveal the Son to babes and to hide him from the wise. 

The point of this is not that there are only certain classes of people who are chosen by God. The point is that God is free to choose the least likely candidates for his grace.

God contradicts what human merit might dictate. He hides from the self-sufficient wise and reveals to the most helpless and unaccomplished. 

When Jesus sees the Father freely enlightening and saving people whose only hope is free grace, he exults in the Holy Spirit and takes pleasure in his Father’s election.

So, when we see this — in fact, when we know that we are among the chosen children — we too join the rejoicing.

THE DECEPTIVE POWER IN RICHES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY 19, 2021.

SUBJECT : THE DECEPTIVE POWER IN RICHES!

Memory verse: “And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10 vs 24.)

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 17 - 19:

6:17: Command those who are rich in this present age not be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

6:18: Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

6:19: storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

INTIMATION:

In imagining that their wealth is their strongest defense, rich people are sadly mistaken. Riches cannot provide safety because there are too many ways for it to lose its power. For instance, the government may cease to back it; thieves may steal it; inflation may rob it of all value. Eventually, in many circumstances your wealth can lose its power. But God never loses His power. He is always dependable and ever faithful.

People recognize that riches give them power. It enables them to put food on the table and pay their bills. The power in riches have been given various names: 'purchasing power,' ‘bargaining power,’ ‘economic power,’ negotiating power,’ and so on. So, people see giving their riches away as loosing power. Therefore, they think they are loosing in life by giving out their riches.

Jesus laid emphasis on the teaching of money and riches because of its importance to our daily lives, and our relationship with God. Churches don't preach on them today in the way and manner Jesus did, apparently because of fear of the perception of the congregants. The times something is said from the pulpit about money and riches is to motivate the congregants to give toward funding ministries or projects. But this subject is very important for our Christian race.

Let us revisit the story of the rich young man. After the man walked away unwilling to part with his money, the Lord said, "How hard shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again, and said to them, children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10 vs 23 - 24.)

You could say it this way, "How hard it is for rich people to be born again." That's quite a statement, because people often see riches as blessings from God indicating God’s approval. That was why the disciples were astonished at Hesus’ remarks. But Jesus clarified His statement thus, "How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom." He isn't saying that riches itself makes it difficult to be saved. He is saying that having lots of riches can trick people into putting faith in their riches because of the associated powers in it. Instead of putting their trust in God who gives them the power to get the wealth. However, riches aren’t the problem, but how you trust in the associated powers is the issue.

The parable of a certain rich man told by Jesus in Luke 12 vs 20 - 21, says, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” In the parable God called the rich man who trusted in his plentiful harvest a Fool! So is everyone who trusts in uncertain riches. The rich man died even before he could begin to use what was stored in his barns.

Planning for retirement—preparing for life before death—is wise, but neglecting life after death is disastrous. If you accumulate wealth only to enrich yourself, with no concern for helping others, you will enter eternity empty-handed. Jesus challenges us to think beyond earthbound goals and to use what we have been given for God’s kingdom. Faith, service, and obedience are the way to become rich toward God.

Where do you look for security and safety, in uncertain wealth or God who is always faithful? All of us will say, "Oh yes, I'm trusting in the Lord," but you have to do more than just say it. As the apostle James said in his epistle, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2 vs 26). Someone who is really trusting in the Lord will prove it by giving out of their resources. 

See, the danger with riches is that you can get to where you trust in what riches can do, that is, relying on its inherent powers to work for you more than you trust in God. Then, when you come upon a problem that riches can't solve, you will feel like the earth is crumbling beneath you. God will still be there to help you, but you would have learned to trust in His ability to deliver you. This is the major reason why giving is important: because learning to trust God starts with your riches.

The psalmist in Psalm 18 vs 2 says, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Unlike riches, God’s protection of His people is limitless and can take many forms. God is the supreme controller of all circumstances. In Him all finalities rest. The Scripture, in Lamentations 3 vs 37 notes, “Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it?” Only with God’s approval will your riches provide a safe haven for you. Therefore, put your trust in Him that controls all circumstances.

Prayer: Abba Father, in You all things consist. You are my shield and buckler. May I never put my trust in any other thing but You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Light Beyond the Light

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2)

Jesus Christ is refreshing. So, seek the things that are above. Don’t replace Christ this summer with trifles. Flight from Christ into Christless leisure makes the soul parched. 

At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the word. But then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit. 

Don’t let the coming of summer make your soul shrivel. God made summer as a foretaste of heaven, not a substitute. 

If the mailman brings you a love letter from your fiancé, don’t fall in love with the mailman. Don’t fall in love with the video preview and find yourself unable to love the coming reality.

Jesus Christ is the refreshing center of summer. He is preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18), including vacations and picnics and softball and long walks and cookouts. He invites us this summer, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). 

Do we want it? That is the question. Christ gives himself to us in proportion to how much we want his refreshment. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). 

Peter’s word to us about this is, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20). Repentance is not just turning away from sin, but also turning toward the Lord with hearts open and expectant and submissive.

What sort of summer mindset is this? It is the mindset of Colossians 3:1–2, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

It is God’s earth! It is a video preview to the reality of what the eternal summer will be like when “the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).

The summer sun is a mere pointer to the sun that will be: the glory of God. Summer is for seeing and showing that. Do you want to have eyes to see? Lord, let us see the light beyond the light.

DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 18, 2021.

SUBJECT : DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD!

Memory verse: “Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 58:14.)

READ: Psalms 37 vs 4 - 5; 145:19:

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

37:5: Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

145:19: He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him, He will also hear their cry and save them.

INTIMATION:

The Scripture tells us to delight in the Lord and commit everything we have and do to Him. To delight in Him means to experience great pleasure and joy in His presence. This happens only when we know Him well. Thus, to delight in the Lord, we must know Him better than normal. The knowledge of God’s great love for us, that love that drove Him to give His only begotten Son as a propitiation for our sins, will indeed make us delight in Him.

He created you and has put in place everything you require to live for Him, according to His purposes. You can only know and have access to His limitless provisions when you delight in Him—strive to know Him and His ways better. Remember He said we should do this first—seek to know Him and His purposes for us first, and all other things you need, including your desires, will be added to you without struggle: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6 vs 31 - 33.)

Steep your life in God’s reality of living through the wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Him, never worrying about missing out. Then you will find that all your everyday human concerns will be met. Before all else, strive after God’s way of doing and being right. It’s by God’s grace that we exist. We never entered into any agreements to be created by Him. It’s all His doing, and for His purposes. Therefore, if He has done all by Himself, and for His purposes, it’s obvious that to live and do rightly—living according to His preordained purposes—You must know Him and His ways thoroughly. It’s your quest and thirst to know Him and His ways, that commits Him into revealing Himself to you. 

Therefore, delight yourself in the Lord, put Him first in all you do—let Him take the driving seat in your life. Resolve to set aside time each day to read and think about God’s Word, reminding yourself of it day and night, and God will be your constant companion, ensuring your success in carrying out His purposes. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes—and His opinion is most important. 

The Lord gave this insight to Joshua, when He said to him, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in It day and night, that you may observe do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1 vs 8 - 9.)

God Himself taught Joshua the principle and strategy of ensuring a prosperous living, gaining good success, and having the pleasure of God’s companionship at all times. God said that to ensure the aforestated, Joshua must put Him first:  (1) Constantly read and study the Book of the Law—God’s Word, (2) ensuring his obedience to God’s law—doing according to all that is written in it, (3) always being strong and courageous; not being afraid nor dismayed.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, that the eyes of my understanding being enlightened that I know the hope of Your calling, and the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in those that believe, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Five Digital Dangers

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)

Christians do not just coast through life like jellyfish floating in the current of contemporary culture. We live by the power of the Spirit and find our course by the word of God. We swim. Like dolphins, not jellyfish. Part of that course setting and power is expressed in thoughtful engagement with the digital realities of our day. Dangers included. Here are five.

1) The hook of constant curiosity

Digital devices offer a never-ending possibility for discovery. Even the basic operating systems can consume hours of curious punching and experimenting. Then there are the endless apps consuming weeks of your time as they lure you into their intricacies. 

All this is very deceptive, giving the illusion of power and effectiveness, but leaving you with a feeling of emptiness and nervousness at the end of the day. 

Resolution: I will strictly limit my experimental time on the device and devote myself more to truth than to technique.

2) The empty world of virtual (un)reality

How sad to see brilliant, creative people pouring hours and days of their lives into creating cities and armies and adventures that have no connection with reality. We have one life to live. All our powers are given to us by the real God for the real world leading to a real heaven and real hell. 

Resolution: I will spend my constructive, creative energy not in the unreality of “virtual reality” but in the reality of the real world.

3) “Personal” relations with a machine

Like no other invention, a computer comes closest to being like a person. You can play games with it. It will talk to you. It will always be there for you. The great danger here is that we really become comfortable with this manageable electronic “person,” and gradually drift away from the unpredictable, frustrating, sometimes painful dealings with real human persons. 

Resolution: I will not replace the risk of personal relationships with impersonal electronic safety.

4) The risk of tryst

“Tryst ’trist noun: An agreement (as between lovers) to meet.” Sexual affairs begin in private time together, extended conversation, and the sharing of soul, which can now be done in absolute seclusion through digital devices. You can think that “it’s just nothing” — until she (or he) shows up in town. 

Resolution: I will not cultivate a one-on-one relationship with a person of the opposite sex other than my spouse. If I am single, I will not cultivate such a relationship with another person’s spouse.

5) Porn

More insidious that X-rated videos, we can now not only watch but join the perversity in the privacy of our own den. Interactive porn will allow you to “do it” or make them “do it” virtually. 

I have never seen it. Nor do I ever intend to. It kills the spirit. It drives God away. It depersonalizes women. It quenches prayer. It blanks out the Bible. It cheapens the soul. It destroys spiritual power. It defiles everything. 

Resolution: I will never open any app or website for sexual stimulation, nor purchase or download anything pornographic.

GOD’S KIND OF PROSPERITY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MAY 17, 2021.

SUBJECT : GOD’S KIND OF PROSPERITY!

Memory verse: "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” (Genesis 12 vs 2.)

READ: Second Corinthians 9 vs 8; Ephesians 4 vs 28:

Second Corinthians 9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Ephesians 4:28: Let him that stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

INTIMATION:

God's kind of prosperity comes when you shift your focus from getting and maintaining stuff, to living to give. Most people think, "as soon as they meet their needs, they will toss a tip God's way, or other people’s way." As long as their needs get met first, then God and others can have the leftovers; that isn't seeking first the kingdom of God. The Lord says we should work so we will have money to bless other people—being blessed to be a blessing.

Many might be thinking, 'We're living in the world of constant struggles.' Out in the real world, you have to work to pay bills, life is all about working to get ahead. But God's plan for our financial freedom doesn't rely on the natural results of hard work. The Word of God teaches that when you put the kingdom of God first, then all your needs, including financial, will be taken care of. (Matthew 6 vs 33.) 

God's kind of prosperity results from faith—faith in God and His Word. It's a mind-set and a heart condition, not a get-rich-quick scheme. You ensure that you are obedient to God’s Word, especially those kingdom principles of prosperity. When you work so that you can get money to give—being blessed to be a blessing, the God takes care of you. However, prosperity is a by-product of seeking God; it shouldn't be the goal.

God wants you to have nice things, but your heart attitude should be that prosperity isn't about you—it's really about how much is flowing through you. God gave us two hands: one hand to receive, and one hand to give. If God can get the money through you to other people, then He will get it to you, and as the money flows through, there will be plenty left over for you. You are not supposed to live in poverty; it's just that your first priority should be helping, rather than trying to grab everything you can for yourself.

The reason God makes all financial blessings abound toward you is so that you'll have the resources to do good things for others, because true prosperity isn't defined by how nice your house is, or by what kind of car you drive. God evaluates prosperity by how much of a blessing you are to others. Though it is easy it is to say, but it's a lot harder to live. Many people hesitate to give generously, even to God, because they worry about having enough money left over to meet their own needs.

Of course, you have needs too, and God knows that. The natural inclination is to think, If I start taking care of everybody else, then who is going to take care of me? God will take care of you, and He'll do a better job than you will ever do yourself. He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. It is noteworthy that every unit of money, in any currency, you have has the potential to influence a person's life for the better. 

The highest form of giving is to help share the Gospel. When you start helping the “Good News” to be shared, demonstrating the love of God in word and deed, there is a divine flow that takes place. God starts supernaturally supplying your needs. This is why Scripture tells us to give God the first fruits, not the leftover fruit. The first thing you should do when you get  money is give back to God. When you do that, God takes care of you incidentally than you have ever done through striving and grasping at your resources.

In one of the the passages we read today, the apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesians to think differently about the goal of work. He didn't tell them to labor so they could pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads. Nor did he tell them to labor so they could feed and clothe their children. He said, "work so you'll have money to give to those in need." He was echoing Jesus' teaching that the most important use of money is not satisfying your needs, but by satisfying other people's temporal needs, and touch people's lives as a demonstration of your love for God.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of being a blessing to others with the blessings You bestow upon me, and with the wisdom of putting my cares upon You because You care for me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!