Guard against

Guard against
Jesus said,
 "...Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15
How important are your possessions? Many people strive to be rich. They spend their whole lives working long hours. Many even bring work home with them. Their family and friends take second place. They work so much that they don’t enjoy life.
Jesus said,
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Matthew 8:36.
Like I have said in previous blogs there is nothing wrong with being rich. It’s what priority you put on it.
The apostle Paul writes,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10
The love of money can change people. Some people never have enough. They toil long hours to try and get enough yet their desire is never filled.
Sadly their lust for riches can pull them from their faith.
Jesus said,
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...." Matthew 6:19-21.
Thus my question to you the reader.
Where is your treasure?
Please think about it.

The Love of Money

The Love of Money

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 
                                                                          1 Timothy 6:9,10.
Here is something that is a universal truth for both Christians and non-Christians.
Let me underscore here that being wealthy is not a sin. It’s “the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil.” It’s when we but the acquisition of money above all things that we can fall into folly.
Think of how many people over the years have fallen for get rich quick schemes. People who have been conned out of their life savings.
The people who are taking advantage of others by running the get rich quick schemes are themselves looking to get rich quick, by stealing the money of others.
Most get caught and end up in jail. Still there is always someone out their willing to help someone wanting to make a quick buck part with their money.
Lets face it being rich comes with prestige attached to it.
It supposedly give you time to enjoy life. But does it?
There are lots of stories of people who have won millions in lotteries only to blow through it in a few years leaving them worst off than they were before the win.
The apostle Paul notes,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
I’ve known lots of people over the years who almost live at work. They work and they work to get the money to get the good things in life, yet they can’t enjoy it. They have no time.
Conversely I know several people who are church mouse poor yet enjoy life to the fullest.
I’m reminded today of my sister-in-law Shirley who passed away not long ago.
She was indeed church mouse poor. She struggled with alcohol addiction but managed to remain sober for the last fifteen years of her life.
Still she never had a lot of money but she managed.
She was the kind of person that would give you the shirt of her back. She helped everyone.
She volunteered her time at church and with organization that helped the poor and those fighting alcohol addiction.
Shirley was one of the happiest people I have ever met. Yet most times she didn’t have a dime to her name.
People still come up to my wife and I saying how much they miss her and telling us of how she helped them.
Proof you don’t need to be rich to bring a little joy and happiness into someone’s life.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
                                                          Matthew 6:19,20.
Think about it.

Love of Money

Love of money
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 
1 Timothy 6:10 
Let me make a clear statement here. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of money and being rich. It’s when you love money so much it consumes you. It draws you away from other more important things such as family and friends. As someone has said no one on his death bed asks about his bank balance.
I think the principle of someone loving money so much it causes grief for themselves and others is one Christian principle all people can grasp.
Over the years we’ve heard of so called white collar criminals using various schemes to rip of unsuspecting people of their life savings and more.
Then there are those who trying to make a fast buck gamble their money away. Others simply go out and steal.
This I am convinced will continue to happen as long as materialism and consumerism continues in our society.
Getting all the latest toys and gadgets may feel good for a time, ultimately however it leaves the person waiting for their next fix. The next greatest latest toy.
As I look around I see many young people disillusioned with our society. I would imagine that many of those young people who are going off to join terrorist organisations are looking for more to life than the latest gadget.
Sometime ago Harry Golden made this statement,
“I would recommend that we straighten out a few things before we contemplate any interplanetary transportation system.  Suppose a man from Mars should suddenly appear on Earth?  I think it would be terribly embarrassing if he learned that a second-rate singer in a night club makes four thousand dollars a week, and a high-school teacher makes three thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars a year.  This and many other things should be straightened out first if we intend to maintain our dignity when planet folks start visiting us."
                                                                                                    Harry Golden
As a society our priorities are wrong we need to turn back to God. To his principles of Love and caring for our fellow man.
The apostle James writing to Christians wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” 
                                                                                                             James 2:14-20.
I know he was writing to Christians but the principle of loving and caring for ones fellow man is just the right thing to do whether you are a Christian or not.
Why should millions if not billions live in poverty going without adequate food, housing and health care while others have more money than they can spend in ten life times?
Think about it.