#Jesus Vs. #Riches... He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. - Matt 13:22 Today, you can hear many christians or church goers justifying their greed for riches and selfish interest in churches quoting some scriptures like this one: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich- 2Cor 8:9. And many other scriptures they use as Peter said, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction- 2Pet 3:16. * In Christ Jesus, we are called to be rich in the faith (2Cor 8:9. Jas 2:5), not in the riches/wisdom of this world. Jesus started it for us this way saying, After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread...Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, 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 the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon...Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt 6:9-11,19-21,24,31-33) > Jesus says, seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. He didnt say seek/labor to acquire them as the Gentiles/world does. Being content with what you have is the life of Jesus, and the our Father in heaven is committed to add all things we need so long we seek first His kingdom and His Righteousness, Jesus Christ the Son of God (Matt 18:19-20). * Many has been deceived with the wrong message of prosperity, and they think that Jesus did not live the life He commanded them to live, as if Jesus died as an infant. > Brethren, Jesus lived on earth as every other man. I got married as a grown man and a minister of the gospel at 29 years of age. But Jesus started His ministry at 30 years of age and died at age 33 and half. Some billionaires are yet to clock 30 years old. Therefore as you can see, Jesus knew what it means to build a house or temple(worship center), to buy a boat/car, to marry a beautiful woman, to have children, to build house and care for His parents and siblings, to have much money in the bank(s), to stop the crowd from leaving Him and to make the poor fishermen rich; But He chose to live the kingdom life and says, Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head- Matt 8:20. Jesus even had a treasurer called Judas Iscariot, so theres nothing you can talk about money and ministry that Jesus didnt know. Luke said about Jesus life and ministry this way, The former treatise(book of Luke) have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God- Acts 1:1-3. > What Jesus did, He taught the Apostles and those that will believe Him afterwards through their message (Read Jn 10:15-16; 17:20-23). In fact, Jesus had a wonderful opportunity to be crowned king by the majority of people, but He ran away, why? Because as He says, My kingdom is not of this world- Jn 18:36. He even said that the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light- Lk 16:8. Because He used a servant in that parable to show how the children of this world wisely use money to make friends in their generation (Read Lk 16:1-13) but the children of the light fails to walk in the light even as He is in the light - 1Jn 1:7. > Instead of living like Jesus did, the children of light is copying the children of this world in their corrupt generation; They are tithing, sowing seed and laboring to get the care(things) of this world, and the deceitfulness(abundance) of riches, which chokes the word and makes them becomes unfruitful in the faith. Jesus lived the life of the kingdom, not the life of this corrupt world thats passing away. The children of this world serve money, but the children of light which we are in Christ Jesus, are called to worship God in Spirit and in Truth; And those things the children of this world are laboring to get will be added to us. * No matter how smart you claim to be as a child/minster of God, care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches will choke the word, and you becomes unfruitful if you labor to get them (Read 1Tim 6:9-10). Thats why Jesus warned saying, Labor not for the meat(riches) which perishes, but for that meat(riches) which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you: for him has God the Father sealed- Jn 6:27. > Jesus commanded that we should labor for the meat which will last forever, which He will give to us; He has given us all that riches, so we can now say, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ- Eph 1:3. * As Paul also charged the poor and the rich among the church through Timothy saying, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content...Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life- 1Tim 6:6-8; 17-19. If you are among the children of the kingdom of God in the light, walk as Jesus walked; Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein...Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (Heb 13:8-9. 1Jn 4:17). + The early Church/Apostles lived as Ambassadors of Christ here on earth, we also ought to follow in the same step since we have One Faith in Christ Jesus. Amen! Jesus Is The Lord!
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 19:19:15 +0000
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