Psalm 62:10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Oh Friends, it’s a new day! Wow! We’ve been granted a new lease on life, so let’s thank our Heavenly Father for His LOVING kindness. ‘Thank you Lord, for allowing me to see another day. I pray that you’ll keep me, and all those who trust in you, safe, and guide us in paths of righteousness, so that we can do your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’ And since the Lord was willing for us to get together again, (smile) then, as promised, we’ll continue on the topic of; ‘if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.’ Yesterday we saw Jesus’ response to earthly wealth, but before going on, I want to point out one important thing. After Jesus told the rich, young ruler to go and obey the commandments if he wanted to obtain eternal life, and the fellow said he’d been doing that from young, the Good Book notes; ‘Then Jesus beholding him, LOVED him…’ (Mark 10:21) That means He felt sorry for him, felt badly, felt sad, had compassion, because He knew that what He was about to tell him; sell what he owned, give to the poor, then come and take up his cross and follow him, would create great sadness and conflict in the youngster’s heart and soul, since he genuinely seemed to want to do good. My point here Friends is that in cases where we’re about to give others news they might not like or appreciate, especially if they seem genuine, we must consider our words and actions carefully, don’t be too harsh, unforgiving or belittling. Let’s be like Jesus, show some compassion, for often when we’re right, we tend to get up on our high horse and talk down to people, expound without any thought for the other person’s feelings. That wasn’t our Saviour’s style. Even when He gave bad news, He always tried to soften the blow. So too should we. Now yesterday we ended where Jesus astounded the disciples with talk of how hard it is for the rich to go to heaven, it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, and how men couldn’t do that, but with God all things were possible. (Mark 10:23-27) Today we’ll continue that conversation. ‘Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.’ (Mark 10:28-31) That, my people, puts the whole thing in the right perspective. It’s not always easy to give up material things, but if we do it on Jesus’ behalf, then we will be rewarded later on, either here on earth, or when He comes to rule in glory. And it’s not just a one for one payback, but ‘an hundredfold.’ That’s how our God rewards us for putting out on His behalf; with more than we can ask or imagine. And as we said yesterday, nothing’s wrong with being rich, but it all depends on how and why we acquire the wealth and what we do with it. Obviously if we acquire it through false, unethical, ungodly means, like stealing, killing robbing, usury etc, then it will be considered ill gotten gain, wealth that we’re really not entitled to. However if we get it through fair and honest means then that’s fine. Then we come to the why, the motive for acquiring that wealth. If it’s just to boost your ego, make you feel good and powerful and live the high life, then I doubt the Lord will look kindly on it. But if you seek riches not to glorify yourself but God, then He will safeguard your earthly treasure, for riches are given to us to enable us to do God’s work, to further His kingdom, cause we’re only stewards of that wealth. Remember, regardless of what good we do, the Lord always looks at our motive, the true purpose and intent of our hearts as the judging factor. Oh Friends, contrary to what many think, wealth itself causes many problems; we’ve got to keep it safe, know whom to trust with it, can’t let too many people know we have it for fear of them wanting to hurt us or our families to get some of it etc. Being wealthy is nice, but it’s no picnic. Most importantly, we have to ensure it doesn’t change us into worldly, self-seeking ogres and just live for it. As Job said when he spoke of his integrity. ‘If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much…This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.’ (Job 31:24-25,28) So Friends, even way back then, wise people realized that life was not only about earthly wealth and the amassing of or serving it. Jesus’ famous warning should always ring in our ears too when we consider material possessions. ‘Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.’ (Luke 12:15) And finally Friends, no talk, lecture, dialogue, diatribe, whatever, on riches is ever complete without these wise words of Bruh Paul. ‘For the LOVE of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, (for which some in their greediness have strayed from the faith) and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ (1 Tim.6:10) Seldom were truer words spoken Friends. So let that warning also stay in our consciousness when we consider the wealth of the world. Nothing’s basically wrong with money, for we all need it to live. It’s when we worship, LOVE, bow down to it like an idol, that it gets us in trouble. Please be careful and not let it lead us astray. Much LOVE!…remember…earthly possessions can’t buy LOVE…salvation…or eternal life…
Oh Friends, it’s a new day! Wow! We’ve been granted a new lease on life, so let’s thank our Heavenly Father for His LOVING kindness. ‘Thank you Lord, for allowing me to see another day. I pray that you’ll keep me, and all those who trust in you, safe, and guide us in paths of righteousness, so that we can do your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’ And since the Lord was willing for us to get together again, (smile) then, as promised, we’ll continue on the topic of; ‘if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.’ Yesterday we saw Jesus’ response to earthly wealth, but before going on, I want to point out one important thing. After Jesus told the rich, young ruler to go and obey the commandments if he wanted to obtain eternal life, and the fellow said he’d been doing that from young, the Good Book notes; ‘Then Jesus beholding him, LOVED him…’ (Mark 10:21) That means He felt sorry for him, felt badly, felt sad, had compassion, because He knew that what He was about to tell him; sell what he owned, give to the poor, then come and take up his cross and follow him, would create great sadness and conflict in the youngster’s heart and soul, since he genuinely seemed to want to do good. My point here Friends is that in cases where we’re about to give others news they might not like or appreciate, especially if they seem genuine, we must consider our words and actions carefully, don’t be too harsh, unforgiving or belittling. Let’s be like Jesus, show some compassion, for often when we’re right, we tend to get up on our high horse and talk down to people, expound without any thought for the other person’s feelings. That wasn’t our Saviour’s style. Even when He gave bad news, He always tried to soften the blow. So too should we. Now yesterday we ended where Jesus astounded the disciples with talk of how hard it is for the rich to go to heaven, it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, and how men couldn’t do that, but with God all things were possible. (Mark 10:23-27) Today we’ll continue that conversation. ‘Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.’ (Mark 10:28-31) That, my people, puts the whole thing in the right perspective. It’s not always easy to give up material things, but if we do it on Jesus’ behalf, then we will be rewarded later on, either here on earth, or when He comes to rule in glory. And it’s not just a one for one payback, but ‘an hundredfold.’ That’s how our God rewards us for putting out on His behalf; with more than we can ask or imagine. And as we said yesterday, nothing’s wrong with being rich, but it all depends on how and why we acquire the wealth and what we do with it. Obviously if we acquire it through false, unethical, ungodly means, like stealing, killing robbing, usury etc, then it will be considered ill gotten gain, wealth that we’re really not entitled to. However if we get it through fair and honest means then that’s fine. Then we come to the why, the motive for acquiring that wealth. If it’s just to boost your ego, make you feel good and powerful and live the high life, then I doubt the Lord will look kindly on it. But if you seek riches not to glorify yourself but God, then He will safeguard your earthly treasure, for riches are given to us to enable us to do God’s work, to further His kingdom, cause we’re only stewards of that wealth. Remember, regardless of what good we do, the Lord always looks at our motive, the true purpose and intent of our hearts as the judging factor. Oh Friends, contrary to what many think, wealth itself causes many problems; we’ve got to keep it safe, know whom to trust with it, can’t let too many people know we have it for fear of them wanting to hurt us or our families to get some of it etc. Being wealthy is nice, but it’s no picnic. Most importantly, we have to ensure it doesn’t change us into worldly, self-seeking ogres and just live for it. As Job said when he spoke of his integrity. ‘If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much…This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.’ (Job 31:24-25,28) So Friends, even way back then, wise people realized that life was not only about earthly wealth and the amassing of or serving it. Jesus’ famous warning should always ring in our ears too when we consider material possessions. ‘Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.’ (Luke 12:15) And finally Friends, no talk, lecture, dialogue, diatribe, whatever, on riches is ever complete without these wise words of Bruh Paul. ‘For the LOVE of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, (for which some in their greediness have strayed from the faith) and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.’ (1 Tim.6:10) Seldom were truer words spoken Friends. So let that warning also stay in our consciousness when we consider the wealth of the world. Nothing’s basically wrong with money, for we all need it to live. It’s when we worship, LOVE, bow down to it like an idol, that it gets us in trouble. Please be careful and not let it lead us astray. Much LOVE!…remember…earthly possessions can’t buy LOVE…salvation…or eternal life…
SCRIP-BITS 