The Immense Importance of Believers ONLY Boasting in God, and not in Themselves!

26 Dec 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Deuteronomy 8:18a.        But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,

Ah mih people, it’s Friday, Boxing Day, and most of the hoopla over Christmas Day has now died down. Hope that you and yours had a joyful time, me and mine certainly did. Sadly though, instead of Boxing Day continuing with a high degree of the Christmas Spirit, it’s now mostly about sales and returns of Christmas presents. The economics have taken over right away. But what to do eh? As Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley) says: ‘Look your best, do your best, and  be your best as always for Christ.’

Now, I don’t know if some of us even know that it’s Friday, but just that it’s Boxing Day and a holiday for many people. So some of us might not even have offered up our usual prayer of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ We just know that it’s a long weekend, and if we play our cards right we can be off work off almost a week, (smile) what with the New Years Celebrations in the offing. 

Anyway, the most important thing is that the birth of Jesus was celebrated, and He occupied a place in many hearts that He never occupied before, or not to such a great extent, and let’s hope and prayer that that Christmas spirit will continue right into the New Year and all though it; that 2026 will be a year when many more of us live sincerely for Christ! End of Sermon! (smile) 

And today I’ve been led to a quote from my ‘I LOVE YOU’ Poster, which says; ‘True wealth is what you are, not what you have.’ And that makes a lot of sense, for despite all of  your material wealth, if you don’t have the presence of God and godliness running within you, then you’re still  poor where it counts the most; emotionally and spiritually. That’s why so many supposedly wealthy people are so unhappy and miserable. They allow their material wealth to disrupt the workings of their souls in a way that displeases God. And without a true sense of God, without His presence in your soul, you can never be truly happy, despite your vast amount of material wealth. 

That brings us to this very important scripture where Moses warned the people of Israel about not forgetting the Lord when they got wealthy, not forgetting all the good things that He had done for them while they were struggling to survive in the wilderness. (Deut. 8:11-16) ‘And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.’ (Deut. 8:18) 

So we need to remember that it’s God who causes us to get wealth, be it material or emotional. And that ought to remind us of the story of the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel, who boasted of building his great palace through his own might, and before the words were out of his mouth the Lord had decreed that he would go mad and eat grass like the animals for seven years. And it all happened as decreed. (Dan. 4:28-33) Blessedly for Neb though, at the end of the seven years of madness, he gained back his mental faculties and his kingdom and praised God with a marvellous testimony for his miraculous recovery. (Dan. 4:34-36) 

Then, in conclusion he stated with all sincerity: ‘Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the king of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways of judgement (justice): and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (humble).’ (Dan. 4:37) Now, there we can see that Neb learned his lesson, but so many of us don’t, and unfortunately continue down the road to destruction and eternal death. We forget the scripture that tells us; ‘But he that glorieth (boasts), let him glory (boast) in the Lord.’ (2 Cor. 10:17) And in this boastful and selfish society we should all have those words tattooed on our faces so that we can remember it. 

And now, something else pertaining to true wealth, it’s a list of ‘The Twelve Aspects of True Wealth,’ that’s been on the wall on the opposite side of my office for donkey’s years, but do you think I see it. No way! Just like I don’t see the many other reminders I have all over the office. But for our information, here are those 12 aspects of true wealth. 

(1) A positive mental attitude. (2) Sound physical health. (3) Harmony in human relationships. (4) Freedom from fear. (5) Hope of future achievement. (6) The capacity for applied faith. (7) Willingness to share one’s blessings with others. (8) To be engaged in a Labour of LOVE. (9) An open mind on all subjects to all people. (10) Complete self-discipline. (11) Wisdom with which to understand people. (12) FINANCIAL SECURITY. 

And the whole point of that exercise is to show us that lots of money is the LAST aspect of true wealth, not the first, as so many of us make it. Hope we learn that lesson well for the upcoming New Year, seriously concentrating on the first eleven, rather than the twelfth. (smile) Now, it’s time go to the throne of grace through our Friday Chant,  seeking divine aid for all that ails us. 

Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough…  because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. 

We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’ 

Yes friends, along with the sinful world, let’s truly wake up and smell the coffee this upcoming year nuh. It’s our bounden duty which we have been sadly neglecting. And the world is crying out for our help! Much LOVE!

…true wealth is what we have…when God is first and foremost in our lives…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   31 January 2024 Matthew 6:24b.

31 Jan 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 6:24b.       Ye cannot serve God and mammon (earthly riches).

Oh friends, last night as I was sitting at my desk, contemplating what task to commence, and not wanting to do the ones I really desired to do, (smile) I happened to look up at the wall on my right side, a wall filled with pictures, and words of encouragement that I very seldom seem to look at. But as my eyes wandered over all the stuff there, they fell on this particular list written in bold red and black colours titled ‘The Twelve Aspects of True Wealth.’ And it suddenly occurred to me that I didn’t know what those aspects of true wealth were. So I took a few moments to read it, obviously the first time in a long while. 

Then, having done so, the truth of it all suddenly came back to me, and I had the inspiration to share them with you today. So here they are. (1) A positive mental attitude. (2) Sound physical health. (3) Harmony in human relationships. (4) Freedom from fear. (5) Hope of future achievement. (6) The capacity for applied faith. (7) Willingness to share one’s blessings with others. (8) To be engaged in a labour of LOVE. (9) An open mind on ALL subjects to ALL people. (10) Complete self-discipline. (11) Wisdom with which to understand people. (12) FINANCIAL SECURITY.’ 

And there you have them; the Twelve Aspects of True Wealth. Now that last one I have in capital letters with dollar signs ($) all around it. Why it was done like that I can’t remember, but I believe it was put last to show that it was not the most important aspect of wealth, which it isn’t. Yes friends, financial security is nice to have, but it is not the most important aspect of our lives, or of true wealth, as can be observed by the numerous people who are financial secure, but are not truly happy. 

And I know that the world touts the accruing of money and other forms of wealth as the search for the Golden Grail, but setting your sights on the accumulation of worldly wealth is only a formula for unhappiness, because it’s a process filled with things like  greed, envy, jealously, hardheartedness, endless work, possibly ill health from too much work, poor personal relationships and lack of a good family life. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. And you know friends, I don’t think that anyone said it better than Cousin Sol as the preacher in Ecclesiastes. 

Let’s listen to him as he reminisces. ‘I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water (irrigate) therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees (grove of growing trees): I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle (herds) above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar (special) treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me (acquired) men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 

So I was great, and increased (excelled) more that all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. and whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy (pleasure), for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of (reward from) all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured (toiled) to do: and behold, all was vanity (futility) and vexation of spirit (a grasping for the world), and there was no profit under the sun.’ (Eccl. 2:4-11) 

Oh my people, if the richest and wisest man ever, did not, or could not find true happiness and lasting joy in all his wealth and wisdom, why are we still trying to attain happiness and joy along those same lines eh? Because the world and the devil have deceived us into thinking that’s the way to joy. But it’s not. The only way to true joy is through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and walking faithfully in His will! And I like the way the scholars explain it. ‘Solomon pursued fulfillment through pleasure (vs. 1-2). wine (vs. 3), great works (vs. 4-6), wealth (vs. 7-8) aesthetic and artistic pleasures (vs. 8), and fame (vs. 9). All of these failed to bring lasting satisfaction to the wisest man of all time, yet people three thousand years later are still trying them in search of enduring fulfillment.’ 

Yes friends, the riches of the world do not automatically bring lasting joy and satisfaction. No. Not unless they are paired with the righteousness of God in our lives. There’s nothing wrong with having worldly wealth, for there are many wealthy Christians, but running down the wealth, just for the wealth’s sake is a waste of time. As Cousin Sol so wisely puts it; ‘it’s all vanity,’ that’s futility and a waste of our efforts. Meanwhile Jesus had this to say on the subject of accumulating earthly wealth for it’s own sake. 

‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also… No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and LOVE the other, or else he will hold to (be loyal) to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (earthly riches).’ (Matt. 6:19-21, 24) 

And there’s truth galore in Jesus’ statements. In the first place wherever your treasure is stored, your heart will focus on that place. Thus if you are targeting earthly riches, then your heart will be focused on the things of the earth. Likewise, if you are storing up treasures in heaven, then your heart will be focused there. But friends, we cannot store treasures in both places and give proper attention to any of them. As the scholars so wisely remind us: ‘Total loyalty to God cannot be divided between Him and loyalty to one’s material possessions. So therefore Jesus is quite right when He says, ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’  However, He is not condemning money or possessions in and of themselves, but the improper attitude of enslavement toward wealth.’ 

And with all we’ve said today, let’s hope that we now know what true wealth is, and  have the right attitude towards it! (smile) So it’s time to go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus.  Altogether now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And furthermore, if we endure right down to the end with Jesus, it’s promised that that glorious future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So, let’s plan on enjoying it together nuh. Much LOVE!

when you die…your earthly treasure stays on earth…while your heavenly treasure awaits you there…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ