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Does your love for money control you?
The world glorifies achievers. Nothing wrong with being an achiever of good things in life. But where the world is in error is where it proclaims the pursuit of money as the end all be all of life. A person who climbs up the Seven Summits is usually given a great deal of respect. However, what’s odd is there’s still even greater respect for those who are billionaires as if they climbed a thousand summits. People will try to verify if a mountaineer used drugs or other illegal methods to cope up with the tough climb but avoid checking if a billionaire is ethical in his pursuit of profits.
I always like doing great things for my country. There are those who shine well in athletics and sports for their fatherland. Some show respect for their nation by doing business and earning lots of revenue and then donating to charity. Others who are a despicable lot, end up being traitors to their own nation for blood diamonds and money. So money itself is neutral, it’s your attitude towards it and your actions to get it which prove whether you are for good or for evil. That is why you must curb your passion towards gaining wealth and instead concentrate on God who gives you the good things of his Kingdom.
God gives you the ability to get money
Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:12-14)
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18)
The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22)
Understand why the love of money is evil
But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22)
The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live. (Proverbs 15:27)
Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. (Psalm 62:10)
So avoid the love of money
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
If you have lots of money don’t put your hope in it
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. (Proverbs 11:28)
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.( 1 Timothy 6:17-19)
Always remember..
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Prayer: O Lord Jesus, I pray that I be set free from the love of money. Let me have the right attitude towards money. Give me the wisdom to only use righteous ways to obtain wealth. Give me sufficient money to provide for my family and community. Direct me to the poor and needy and church ministries that reach out to preach to unbelievers, so that I may bless them with both my finances and prayers for them. Thank you God, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit. Amen.
Further reading: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21.
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The truth about comfort foods
Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in [the] Holy Spirit.
Food is an important part of life. We all eat to live but some instead even live to eat, which is a wrong way of life. You know that excess eating is related to heart disease and high blood pressure. It can put strain when you walk. Besides over eating can make you look fat. That’s the physical part.
Wrong eating affects emotionally too. Eating certain types of food can be addictive and when such stuff is not there it can make one restless. You peace when dependant on comfort food can become quite shaky.
Wrong eating has had bad ramifications in the Bible too. Esau was a glutton who lost his inheritance to Jacob due trading it for food. The beginning stage of the Israelites complaining against God started when they lusted for Egyptian food instead of trusting God to nourish them. And the biggest one; Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and by that, death entered the human race.
There’s a trend in people eating a lot of stuff comfort food. Here a person doesn’t eat to meet the needs of body ie for the physical but rather for emotional appeasement. Not just people who are overweight but even normal looking people have been getting into it. Comfort food is used to feel good after a hard days work or after difficult times.
I once was talking to a woman who said that she ate a lot so that she could tackle depression. On talking further I realized she was still in depression, she too understood that her comfort food was harming her. She wanted to leave that habit but found it near impossible to leave it. All that over eating did was make her obese and in a few months she was hospitalized. She not just gorged on food but now got addicted to sleeping pills too. Later by medical treatment she physically recovered and was put on a strict diet. She then by means of prayer and faith in the Lord Jesus decided to face her negative emotions. She took a stand against them instead of hiding her life into excessive eating. She became more confident emotionally and mentally. Also her weight normalized as well.
I’m not saying that emotional eating ie eating comfort foods is the same as gluttony though it possible in some cases that the boundaries between them are blurred. I’ve also noticed that both men and women fall prey to emotional eating. The reasons why people fall into it may differ but everyone needs to be free from it.
To be truly free from such addictions to comfort foods one must be willing to face their weaknesses and troubles with courage. Jesus can give you the courage it takes. One must understand that Jesus is willing to help you if you want to be helped. Take refuge in the Lord Jesus who gives true hope. Asking him in prayer is a sign that you are taking ownership of your situation instead of the situation owning you. Try to change your food habits. Keep fixed times and quantities for eating. Though, not every case may be extreme, you might want to consider medical treatment if you get breathless or have recurring chest pain etc due to overeating. Pray to the Holy Spirit that you take the right decisions with your eating and drinking.
Guard your heart
One must always guard one’s own heart because once your heart it influenced you will surely start acting out as per your own intentions. It is silly to blame only the devil for all the bad things that happen in the world. People also sin because they choose to do from their own heart.
A serial killer, allows thoughts of murder in his heart on a great level, which then lead him to commit murder. He had a choice to not allow murderous thoughts but he let it be otherwise. No wonder his sin is upon him.
No adulterer can say that they had absolutely no lustful thoughts before getting into the vile sin of adultery. As much as they were aware of their marriage vows so also in that measure were they aware that thoughts of lust and immorality are entering their heart. They had their choice to say no but simply bypassed that. That is why they are in sin.
Christian martyrs (God bless them) chose to let only thoughts of faithfulness to Jesus be in them. That is why even in the face of imminent death they chose to keep their faith in Jesus and die for him rather than reject him. That is why they are worthy disciples of Jesus.
Do have good and holy thoughts that lead you to all actions that glorify God. The more you allow thoughts that are worthy, the better will your walk of faith be in Jesus. Avoid giving your heart to silly and vulgar jokes, immoral forms of entertainment, worthless books and novels, hate promoting songs, this list could go on and on but I do hope that you got my point.
Here are a few scriptures that you could reflect on:
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Matthew 15:18-19 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts–murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
Mark 7:21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come–sexual immorality, theft, murder,
Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
2 Kings 10:31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.
Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life: but teach them to your sons, and your sons’ sons;
Mark 14:38 Watch ye, and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
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