Who is a rich man?
“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:13-21 (KJV)
A man came to Jesus asking Him to intervene in a wealth-sharing dispute between him and his brother who did not want to share their father’s wealth with him. Jesus answered, telling him He wasn’t made a judge over them. His answer has a two-way application. He wasn’t a judge officially over such matters, but indirectly, He told him that the material life was not the reason or purpose of His coming.
This inspired the teaching against covetousness and the parable of the “rich Fool”, a man society called “rich”; Jesus also acknowledged he was rich, and that means he was rich! Yet, heaven called him a fool. Why?
1) He thought the security of life depended on the earthly acquisition: an abundance of wealth, education, connection, location, etc. Sadly, many hold this view today, even in Church, that the more wealth a man has, the more secure he is. This lie looks so golden, whereas it is deception in its highest form, and the creator of the end time god – mammon.
Jesus warned against the deceitfulness of riches and taught that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses.
2) He believed the things he got were results of his labour and hard work. Again, this is another sad thing in Christendom. There is a general belief that the harder a person works, the richer he would be. Over the years, the “prosperity message” has hoodwinked many a believer into a frenzy of going to work very early in the morning and coming back late at night “only to eat the bread of sorrow”, forgetting that “the race is not to the swift …”
3) He made plans as though he had power over his life. We often times forget that our lives belong to God and are in His hand, and He can make a demand of the life at any time. Job reminds us that no man has the power to retain the spirit (life) in him. When God calls, we respond. But hear this “rich man” speak as though he had power over tomorrow and can resist the call of God. People think some are being “over righteous” when they add “by the grace of God” to their statement.
4) He built his life on and around things that have no eternal value. Everything changes: nothing in this world is stable or durable. Building one’s hope on a shifting thing is like building without a foundation! How secure are those things after the death of the man? Who will inherit those things?
The frenzy with which man run after these things that the Bible clearly and unequivocally teaches to be “deceitful” is so alarming that it has become a standard of judging who is, and who is not a true believer, forgetting that love of things in the world is enmity with God.
Jesus said anyone who thinks and plans like this way, is regarded by heaven as a fool. (Luke 12:21) Why?
God’s ways differ from ours! The way we see things is not the way heaven see things! (Isaiah 55) What Man calls treasure, heaven calls nonsense! We do not value the things God values!
Clogged heart of Man
Solomon realized this and said on his return to God, “all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2). Vanity means the quality of being without value; futile, useless, nonsense! That is where Man’s heart is, and God is clearly disappointed in this.
“O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.” – Psalm 4:2 (KJV)
Man’s heart is clogged up with the “weeds” of this world – the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. All these dull the heart, choke the word of God and makes one unfruitful in godliness.
What are we expected to do?
This is a heart situation, because where the treasure of a man is there will his heart be also, and since man cannot fix himself, only God, Who can farm or cultivate the heart can. But He will not; until we willingly come to Him.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
We need to come to Him; to present ourselves to Him to weed off “the cares of this world” from our hearts. For this, He calls us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
“Come”, He says. Many have not “come”, though they have come to church. However, this is not a Church issue! Many are in church but have not “come” to the Lord. Nevertheless, He knows those that are His. Neither is it a ministry issue. It is not what work you do for Him because on that day He will say to some, “depart from me ye that work iniquity, I know you not”. It’s like saying, “I don’t know you, I don’t remember seeing you; you never came to me!”
The proof of your coming to Him is in how much value you place on what He values! Jesus asked Peter in John 21, if he loved Him more than the fish, representing all we wake early to pursue and come in late to acquire.
What does God place value on? His Word!
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” – Psalm 138:2 (KJV)
How much of His word do we treasure? How have we been handling His word, because this is what shall be used to clean us!
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” – John 15:3 (KJV) Emphasis mine.
It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to live in agreement with the Father, loving what He loves and hating what He hates; and He will not live or dwell in a dirty, polluted heart. Using the instrument of the Word, the disciples were cleaned and made ready to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Without the Word spoken to them, they would not have been able to receive the Holy Spirit!
Again, the Bible repeats it.
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it (the Church) with the washing of water by the word.” – Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) Emphasis mine.
In 2 Kings 5, we see the Syrian captain Naaman, instructed by the prophet Elisha to go dip himself seven times in the Jordan River for him to be clean. The number seven, here, represents the mind of God; completeness, nothing to be added or subtracted. The water represents the Word of God. Like Naaman, we should dip ourselves in it to be made whole and clean.
But again, in the Church of today, how much of the Word do we value?
……continued from “how much are you worth?” 1
He is committed to and moved, only by His word retained by the individual in Christ Jesus. It is His word that makes you precious! His word is His treasure!
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” – Psalms 138:2 (KJV)
The word “magnify” means to make important, to raise in rank and power: to give worth. God exalted or magnified His word! He gave more worth to his word more than al his names.
“But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” – Ezek 36:21-23 (KJV)
But He treasures His word more than all His names. He desires His name to be hallowed yet would not permit His word to be trifled. Importance and value are so placed on His word that it is the only thing that binds Him! If you were to go to the market and there see something without value, would you buy it? Certainly not? Surely, you will leave it alone. When God goes to the spiritual market and finds you there, empty of this value, His word, He would most certainly leave you!
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” – Romans 1:28 (KJV)
I remember reading the story of an old worn out violin that was put up to be auctioned. No real value was placed on it until a master violinist touched it; he tuned the strings and with it played a well known classical song. Instantly value was placed on it and the worth appreciated. What happened? A master touched it. It was the touch of the master that supplied the violin its worth. It was the touch of the master that supplied the violin its worth.
Many lives are out of tune today, battered because they have refused to treasure what God treasures, His Word. God expects us to “keep in memory” the word that His servants preach.
“By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” – 1 Cor 15:2 (KJV)
Paul encouraged Timothy to “keep” that which was committed to his trust.
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.” – 1 Tim 6:20 (KJV)
These are not just words for us to read and know but to “retain”, “keep”, “treasure”, etc. The problem is twofold.
Firstly, most of our preachers give us the letter, which kills!
“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” – 2 Cor 3:6 (KJV)
They explain psychology to us in place of the word of God. Things that we can ordinarily learn at business schools, they pass to us as the word of God. Worldly issues are explained to us in Church with the Word as a reference! Just like home-videos designated “gospel films” just because they have “to God be the glory” at the end of it; whereas the actors, writers and producers are not born-again! The absence of the Truth; the mind or will of God in messages is responsible for the compromise and falling away of Christians and the seeming powerlessness of the Church.
The Children of God do not experience the peace of God because of this ignorance.
They may look the same, but are not!
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” – Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
Christians are easily intimidated and in bondage because they lack the Truth that should make them free.
Secondly, the effect of those messages on Christians is the increase in selfishness. We have become too full of ourselves, we worship ourselves, even when we are supposed to be in Church, we hold on to and think more of ourselves: our situations financially, our clothing, our trials, testimonies and achievement; refusing to deny self.
We really need to learn from the violin, a lifeless instrument, dead to itself. We should humble ourselves, put our education, achievement, and earthly wisdom, social and political status aside and in seeming foolishness, receive the simplicity of the Word of God.
David became a nobody, casting his crown and robe aside, to dance to God. Solomon called his acquisitions “vanities”, Paul called his achievement “dung”. Why?
They realized the foolishness of man’s ways and the deceitfulness of worldly riches. They came to know that only the will of God, revealed in His word is the enduring treasure. Jesus surrendered Himself, making Himself of no reputation.
….to be continued.
WORRY THE SILENT KILLER!
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – Matt 6:25-34 (KJV)
Here Jesus taught us not to worry ourselves, as on our own, we cannot change anything. He adds that something comes before worry; this something is the source of worry; it gives birth to worry!
“THEREFORE” verses 25 and 31, proves something precedes worry.
What is this thing?
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matt 6:19-21 (KJV)
VALUE!
On what have you put value? Where have we put worth? What attracts or carries your attention? What do you hold dear in your everyday life?
Heaven or earth?
In HEAVEN there is love, joy, peace, temperance, meekness, gentleness, goodness, faith etc.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Gal 5:22-23 (KJV)
Against these there is no law; no evil can prevail against these!
The Settled word of God, His plan, is also in heaven.
“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” – Psalms 119:89 (KJV)
Here on Earth there are elegant houses (but can be destroyed through fire, riot, war); there are also powerful cars (but can be lost through thieves, fire, riot, war); we have designer wears (again they can be lost through fading, fire, thieves), is it expensive colognes and perfumes? (they fade).
All for honour, fame and power; encouraged and blown out of proportion by motivational speakers who instead of pointing us to heaven point us to things on earth; which if we do not have gives birth to worry.
A lack of heavenly focus plunges one into insecurity and uncertainty. One would seek to change times and seasons.
Things that have been concluded and settled in heaven concerning you!
This thought to change things you have no power to change is the cause of worry!
“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” – Matt 6:27 (KJV)
What you value is certainly where your heart would be; what you will think about all day, especially if it is something you do not have!
SIX STEPS TO STOP WORRYING
(1) know God places a high value on you.
“Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.” – Matt 6:26 (NLT)
(2) Know that there is a plan for your life.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jer 29:11 (KJV)
“ (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” – Matt 6:32 (KJV)
(3) Know that you cannot change that plan.
“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” – Psalms 119:89 (KJV)
Not even with your prayers can you change God’s plan. Ask Abraham, David, Jeremiah, Paul. Not even Jesus was able to change God’s plan for Him.
(4) Know that God cares for you.
“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” – Matt 6:30 (KJV)
(5) Have faith in Him.
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” – Matt 6:31-32 (KJV)
(6) Keep busy with Him; the writer of your part or role in the drama of life.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matt 6:33 (KJV)
Have you ever relied on, hoped on a provision you had stored at home, and when the need for it came you could not reach it because it had been used by some other for something less important? That was what happened to God!
“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” – Ex 32:1-8 (KJV)
Why did God ask them to borrow jewelry from the Egyptians? Couldn’t He have brought them out without it? Was it to beautify them? No!
(1) Egypt attained its power and wealth because of God’s presence.
“And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” – Gen 39:1-3 (KJV)
The prosperity of Egypt happened because of God’s presence in the life of His children, the chosen ones. So ultimately, they belonged to God.
“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” – Psalms 24:1 (KJV)
“And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.” – Josh 6:24 (KJV)
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” – Hag 2:8 (KJV)
(2) God had a plan for His money. People build houses and buy things with their money. God intended the wealth for His house.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” – Ex 25:1-9 (KJV)
What God has given to you is not really for you, but for His work! You are only His instrument of “getting” and “investing” those things!
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” – Hag 2:8 (KJV)
“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” – Psalms 24:1 (KJV)
Even the children we call ours belong to God; we are only care-givers or should we say “overseers”, to direct or invest them in the ways of God!
A divided heart
(3) This is where the corruption lies! We have not taken the pain to know why God gave these things to us. Why did He give us the children? Why did He give us the job or business? Why did He give us the car, the house, etc. What He purposed for Himself, we have held on to; and like the children of Israel, we worship those things: our children, our wealth and other blessings! Everything belong to God!
The instrument of this corruption is the blessing God blessed you with. All that you have today; money, children, land, cars, businesses, jobs, everything, are given to you by the Lord! Not for you but for His Kingdom and glory!
Today many claim to serve God but are carried away by wealth; the wealth they have and those they don’t have!
“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. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” – Matt 6:24 (KJV)
MAMMON! This is the end-time god! They worshiped him in the desert and died; and now in the new dispensation, the New Covenant Church has been corrupted and many are dying spiritually!
On their own, these things are good. But they become corrupt anytime they enter into the heart! God should dwell here! Any other thing that enters there becomes corrupt! Why?
It takes up part of the heart and God will not have part! He deserves and demands all or nothing! A divided heart is a corrupt heart! You cannot serve God and mammon! This is the reason some Christians and their worship are accepted by God: a divided heart!
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness…… “ – Ezek 28:17 (KJV)
This was what He said of Lucifer. God is no respecter of persons. His standard is His standard; it remains the same and does not change.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” – Ex 32:7-8 (KJV)
Our hearts should constantly be examined and whatsoever exalts itself above God in our heart should be cast down.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” – 2 Cor 10:5 (KJV)
This is done when we refuse to hold anything in our hearts that may turn our hearts from God. We should not treasure anything above God. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” – Ex 20:3 (KJV). This first commandment is still potent today!
Jesus would say
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matt 6:19-21 (KJV)
In other words brethren BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING!
“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).
There are eight foundations that should be present in the life of a true Christian. These foundations are precious in the sight of God. They summarize or form the total teachings and preachings of Jesus.
In the “Sermon on the mount”, popularly called the “Beatitudes”, Jesus taught the attitude of heaven. “BE IN ATTITUDE.”
FOUNDATION NO 2
As we continue in our quest to cultivating the Kingdom character, we look at the second foundation of the Christian.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4
These are people that re ready and willing to face, feel and resist anything that comes their way in their Christian journey. They are a people that are able to stand up to life’s tempest and turmoil; going the full mile with the Lord, through laughter and TEARS (mourning).
They do not see or regard the sorrow and hardness as a disadvantage. Rather, they take the strides of life as they come; and are not ashamed to take up their Cross.
These people acknowledge and are aware, that though in Christ, crisis will come (John 16:33), so brace up to face it, “loving not their lives unto the death” – Revelations 12:11
They know their help is in the Lord.
In Galatians 5:22, Paul calls this LONGSUFFERING: this is the willingness – they have the choice not to, but chose – to fellowship with Jesus in His shame and reproach.
FOUNDATION NO 3
This third foundation of the Christian is much like, but very different from the first, (poor in spirit).
“Blessed are the meek: for the shall inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5
Most often, this foundation is confused with MEEKNESS, perhaps because of the “meek” in it.
But it refers to a gentle strength, the power to be humble. A humility that comes, not from circumstances, but from within; a power that comes from a deep trust in God and His Word.
This foundation has the power to fight: economically, physically, e.t.c., but would rather stand quietly, trusting God to bring all things to a perfect end. You can take their coat; and though they have the power to reclaim it, they will give you their cloak. If you smite their cheek, rather than fight, they will turn the other cheek!
“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. ” (Matthew 5:39-40).
Have you been accused wrongly, and with all the strength and fire in you, want to fight back? Bless your enemy! Let go and let this foundation be manifest!
In Galatians 5:23, Paul calls it GENTLENESS.
….. to be continued.
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.” (Proverbs 12:24).
Success in whatever you have chosen to do, does not come without a price. Nothing in life is free! Even Salvation cost God and Jesus something.
How much are you willing to pay for success?
You have to be willing and obedient to eat the fruit of the land.
“If ye are willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” (Isaiah 1:19).
Success is expensive and if you want it, you have to pay for it!
The price to pay for success is nothing but a resolute determination.
A mountainous determination to succeed is the price to pay. A strong desire to counter disgrace poverty, failure, misfortune, etc, must be put in motion day and night; in thought and in deed.
A resolute determination is a mixture of desire and expectation.
I read a story of people engaged in a week long prayer asking for rain. On the last day of the programme the Minister suddenly realized that not a single person, including himself, came with an umbrella all through the days of the programme. There was no burning desire!
It takes a desperate desire to succeed!
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” (Proverbs 10:4).
Diligence means hard work. A person who works hard is a diligent person. Laziness, idleness, is not tolerated by a diligent person.
Poverty, like a vagabond, stalks everyone.
It takes diligence, hard work, to keep it at bay.
A diligent person does not need “motivation” to work! Joseph was diligent in the house of Portipher; he did every available and undone work that came to his attention. He needed no external motivation to work. His motivation was from inside. A diligent person works for himself, even if employed. He works almost round the clock, consumed with the passion of the work.
A diligent person places value on the work and derives satisfaction when work is done and done excellently; this fulfillment, the satisfaction that follows a work well done is what he values more than the financial reward.
May we learn to look beyond financial reward and see the worth of the inner reward; a thing money cannot buy!
If people knew there was a place called provision; a place where every need would be met, I believe we would all go there to live.
But is there really a place called provision? A place where needs are met?
To find out, visit:
http://stonesoffire.simdif.com
Understanding the will of God; the knowledge of what God has freely given to us can help to make us remain or abide in Him.
For more, visit
http://stonesoffire.simdif.com/
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3).
All of God’s blessings (His full thought for us) has been given to us IN the person of Jesus Christ. But we haven’t attained it all, yet. The Holy Spirit is bringing us into that fullness.
Condition: “If” we surrender our will to His will.
May we humble ourselves to do His will, in Jesus Name. Amen.
“King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.” (Daniel 5:1).
Belshazzar threw a party and invited his nobles. They ate, drank and were merry. When they used their own vessels at the feast, God did not trouble them. They could eat their own flesh and drink their own blood; so long as it was theirs and not God’s own.
However, when he stretched his hands to the vessels of God, God reacted.
“Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink in them. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.” – Daniel 5:2-5
And because he did not humble himself and repent, that night, he was killed.
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” – Daniel 5:30.
God would always protect His own, provide for His own and build for His own.
Why would God kill a man because of ordinary cups?
These were not ordinary cups! They belonged to God; they were His!
God had put so much treasure into the cups; they had been sanctified, dedicated to God and separated for His use only. The cups were no more ordinary; they had been transformed by the purity of the Divine God into extraordinary vessels.
God invests so much into His vessels, that is why He would always rise to defend what belongs to Him.
If God so invested into inanimate objects and could kill for them, of more worth are you that fear His Name and carry His presence!
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not from us.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7.
You are of greater worth than those cups. If God could kill a man because of cups, think what He would do to anyone that tries to harm you!
“He suffered no man to do them wrong: yes, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” (Psalms 105:14-15).
The cups had no power or say against the king; they could not resist his servants who picked them with ease. Many may think you are helplessly powerless and that they can pick on you, oppress you and get away with it. They are mistaken!! Oh how wrong they are!!! God is the same, yesterday, today and forever! He will fight for you!!!
Peter was so confident about this he said:
“And who is he that will harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?” – 1 Peter 3:13
Its a question “who is he?” In “pidgin” English we will say “who be dat? Them never born am!” Meaning such a person does not exist and can never be born!
God will fight for you!!!
But… the cups belonged to Him. Do you really belong to Him? No, no, I’m not talking about going to Church for this is beyond that. I mean really belonging to Him. Dipped in the blood of Jesus Christ and living His life?
Those cups had no life of their own; God and His glory were their life. Do you own your life? Live for yourself? Fight to preserve your ego and self-worth? Or do you live humbly, for the One Who gave Himself for your sake?
The vessels, having no ambition, thought or desire of their own were wholly yielded to God and consequently enveloped in His glory.
It is the measure of your surrender and yieldedness that determines the measure of His presence or power in your life; which in turn determines how much attention you get from Him.
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” – James 4:8a.
The more of God you retain, the more His glory envelops you.
Imagine putting a cheque of fifty thousand Naira you would cash the next day, in a 1970 newspaper and the sum of five hundred Naira in a current edition of your favourite magazine. Coming home you find your children playing with the magazine and the newspaper. Which would you rescue first? The current edition of your favourite magazine holding the sum of five hundred Naira or the old 1970 newspaper holding fifty thousand Naira cheque you would cash the following day? I believe your deposit in the papers will determine which one you rescue first.
God loved all the Children of Israel carried to Babylon in the days of Daniel, but He was closer to Daniel, showed him more favour, gave him greater grace than others and granted for him to be called “a man greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11), because Daniel “understood by books” (Daniel 9:2), he chose to retain God more than anything and was not ashamed to show it!
God will not leave you in the hand of the enemy if you retain Him in you.
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:28).
Your worth to God and heaven CAN be increased.
(1) Receive His Word.
(2) Obey His word
(3) Build yourself on His Word.
Shalom.
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